A DECISION to freeze car parking charges for the next 15 months in all West Devon Borough Council-owned car parks has been welcomed by residents and businesses.

Both Okehampton and Tavistock's leading business associations have hailed it as a 'really positive move' by the borough council.

But there are warnings that there could be a much larger increase in 2012 if Retail Price Index inflation and lost income levels were to be accounted for.

The parking freeze follows consultation with parish and town councils and business organisations in the borough.

Cllr Robert Sampson, chairman of the council's environment and community committee, said: 'We are keen to do anything we can to help our residents and traders in these difficult times by keeping outgoing costs as low as possible.'

In the meantime, West Devon's car parking strategy group, which involves business organisations and town and parish councils in the borough, is looking at alternative ways of encouraging further use of its car parks to increase income.

Members of the council's environment and community committee were told last week the fall in the use of car parks was a national trend and due to several factors, including the recession, an increase in fuel prices, free bus passes for pensioners and poor summer weather. This year is expected to see a drop in income of £20,000 due to the increase in VAT.

In Okehampton, the town council is examining the idea of a town centre manager, a position that would involve establishing links with businesses, groups and agencies in the area in order to better promote the town.

The proposal is part of a larger strategy, put together by the working group Destination Okehampton, whose aim is to make the town a more enticing and exciting destination for local people and tourists alike. The group was set up after concerns were raised about the number of empty shops in the town.

Former mayor and town councillor Kay Bickley recently led Okehampton's fight against parking meters and is now helping to organise a committee to examine traffic management in the town.

Cllr Bickley said: 'When we heard West Devon were reviewing their parking charges, we pointed out to them that the possibility they might raise their charges at the same time as Devon County Council brought in parking meters had the potential to spell disaster for Okehampton's economy.

'Their decision to keep their parking charges the same is certainly a step in the right direction, and acknowledges that they have listened to the representations made at a local level.'

Chairman of Okehampton Chamber of Trade Ian Bailey said: 'Whilst this is great news in the short term, we will have to wait to see the long term impact.

'The prospect of parking charges rising more steeply in the future because of this decision is something that concerns me, and something the chamber of trade would object to strongly.

'In the long term, the council must be more imaginative in the way they raise money, rather than just using the motorist as a cash cow every time they have a budget gap to fill.'