A PROPOSAL to alter the parking charges in Tavistock is to be submitted to West Devon Borough Council, as shop owner’s concerns of decreasing parking for visitors continue to grow.

Members of West Devon Borough Council gave the go-ahead for the introduction of a flat rate pay and display day charge of £2 in long-stay car parks, for an experimental period of 12 months in February this year.

Nearly eight months into the scheme, many business owners are now concerned that shop staff are filling the parking spaces, leaving nowhere for visitors or shoppers to park.

At a recent Business Improvement District (BID) meeting in Tavistock, shopkeepers said that there was a need to change the time that the £2 parking tariff begins each day to 10am, in a hope to deter shop assistants from using the car parks before their shifts.

Deputy mayor Cllr Mandy Ewings was present at the meeting and said she had been lobbied about the issues with the car parks.

She added: ‘People have said that they think it would be better if it was from 10am, so that it’s not full of traders — as it is alleged to be. I have to say alleged as I haven’t yet been down to the car parks to see if they are full or not.’

Simon Renshaw, general manager at Dukes said: ‘The shop staff that used to park in Watts Road are now parking in the car parks. I have a car parking permit that I won’t be renewing.

‘I think it would be better if it started at half past ten. There are less spaces for visitors because of it. In the Abbey Car Park visitors to the town come into the car park and can’t find a space. When they leave they can’t turn right so have to go left and that takes them out of the town.

‘I think it is a great initiative but it needs to be fine-tuned. If you go up there now (9.30am Tuesday) you won’t find a space.

‘I know that there are bus tours as well and they are good for the town. I have bought it up that it needs fine-tuning. You just can’t rely on finding a space. I know that a permit doesn’t guarantee you a space but when you pay £400 for it you expect to be able to park.’

Despite belief among shop owners that the car parks are becoming increasing full, local resident Lynne Roper said that Pixon Lane Car Park was rarely full.

She said: ‘I don’t understand why people who work in the town and are often on very low wages should have to pay more for their parking than those who are shopping.

‘It’s not much further from the Riverside Car Park into town than it is from the Bedford Car Park.’

The installation of signage in the car parks was also a suggestion made at the meeting, to direct visitors to other parking destinations if the one they are in is full.

It was also suggested that opening the car park of the borough council offices to people who work in Tavistock, would relieve some of the busier car parks.

BID? manager Lisa Piper said: ‘BID is taking the points raised from the traders to the borough council car parking strategy meeting. We have a strong relationship between BID and other authorities in Tavistock and we are working together to come up with the best parking strategy for Tavistock.’

Tavistock’s parking enforcement officers were also discussed at the BID meeting, as the group had received various complaints regarding the loading bay rules.