CHANGES may be in the pipeline for the centre of Tavistock, following a request to investigate on- street parking arrangements in Brook Street and Duke Street. The move follows a meeting of the town council's properties committee last week, after a request for advice regarding loading bays in Duke Street. Devon County Council is responsible for the installation of bays. It was approached after the town council placed safety bollards at the entrance of the pannier market, so that traffic could not use the market perimeter road while trading was taking place. The bollards are there to make the area safer for pedestrians — but shops in the area which make and receive deliveries during the day had to change their systems — and Duke Street has no loading bays. A report from the county council stated: 'If two goods vehicle loading bays were to be provided in Duke Street, then the number of car parking spaces will effectively reduce from 21 to 17 (at best) or 15 (more realistic). 'This will have an impact upon shoppers' ability to find free street parking spaces and could impact on the town's congestion problems, as drivers either obstruct the road while waiting for a space, or slowly circulate in search of an available space. 'Traders would probably also claim we have adversely affected their passing trade.' But the report did say traders found it difficult to service their shops in Duke Street — goods vehicle drivers were often seen parked on the pavement or double parking and a loading bay would help this problem. The report stated: 'A balanced judgement is required about who has the greater priority for the need to use the highway. There will always be strong arguments from both sides.' Deputy mayor Cllr Mandy Govier proposed the county should formally be asked to 'juggle' the spaces provided for loading bays and disabled spaces in Brook Street and Duke Street. She said: 'I feel very strongly that we should have some loading bays in Duke Street. 'They say loading bays are situated nearby, but for shops like Boots and Clintons who have deliveries during the day, their vans do double park.' Cllr Govier said she was sure if the spaces were re- distributed, and enforcement carried out to make sure people did not park in loading bays, there would not be a problem. Cllr Chris Jenkins said parking enforcement would improve in the coming months with the use of new civil enforcement officers due to start work shortly. But Cllr Ted Sherrell disagreed with any move that might result in fewer on-street parking spaces. He said: 'Parking spaces are endangered in Tavistock and I would hate us to lose even one more space. 'Loading bays are also only effective if you have constant monitoring — unless we have a traffic warden constantly in the town, they are not the answer.' The committee backed Cllr Govier's proposal — the decision was due to be ratified by the full council at its meeting on Tuesday night.
