A GRANT of more than £2,000 to help create a public car park in the centre of Drewsteignton will be considered by Dartmoor National Park Authority tomorrow (Friday).
Although the village has a fairly spacious square, parking is limited and becomes even more of a problem during summer months, when there is an influx of tourists.
The need for a car park has been identified within the park authority?s local plan and Drewsteignton Parish Council has been successful in negotiating for a small area of land behind the Drewe Arms.
Planning permission for the 23-space car park, which will cost almost £14,000 to build, has already been granted.
Tony Milward, Drewsteignton parish clerk, said: ?Parking has been a problem in Drewsteignton for at least 20 years because the square gets full and the roads leading into the square, which creates hazards for emergency vehicles not being able to get through.
?It?s hoped that although the car park isn?t right in the centre of the village, people will make use of it and ease the problems.?
Mr Milward said preliminary work had already started on the scheme ? the car park should be in use by spring.
Money to pay for the project was mainly being raised through the precept, plus grant applications.
?The national park money is for construction of steps from the field where the car park will be, through the churchyard and into the square and also to provide for planting of an orchard, so the whole thing doesn?t look too urban,? he said.
Dartmoor National Park members are also being asked to approve a grant of £1,300 to improve the state of Frog Lane, which will be used to access the new car park.
In his report to members, the authority?s Graham Wall said: ?Frog Lane is in a poor state of repair and it is likely that it will quickly deteriorate as traffic movements increase. An access with a satisfactory surface is vital to the success of the scheme.?