NEW car parking charges for the next two years have been agreed by West Devon Borough Council, following a recommendation from a special strategy group made up of business organisations, town and parish councils in the borough.

Short stay charges — up to two hours in town centres and three hours in rural car parks — are unchanged which means that they will stay at the same level for four years, from April 2008 to March 2012.

From April 2010, long stay parking charges will increase marginally and the tariff will be held for two years.

The parking charges recommendation comes from the West Devon Car Parking Strategy Group which is made up of business people in West Devon including Tavistock and District Chamber of Commerce and Chagford Business Forum, along with town and parish councils in the borough.

The group agreed that it would be preferable to increase long-stay parking charges rather than short-stay, to encourage a higher turnover of vehicles in the town centres.

As a result, there will be no change in the parking charges for up to two hours in Tavistock and Okehampton, and up to three hours in Chagford and Hatherleigh.

Changes were also made to the cost of season tickets.

Although town centre tickets will increase from April 2010, season tickets for Riverside car park in Tavistock, Mill Road car park in Okehampton, Chagford and Hatherleigh car parks will reduce.

Cllr Robert Sampson, chairman of the borough council's environment and community committee, said: 'We really appreciate community involvement in setting our car parking tariffs.

'It means we're able to tailor them to encourage more visitors to the area and to increase the availability of car parking which benefits us all.'

Nigel Eadie, chairman of Tavistock and District Chamber of Commerce, said: 'We welcome the opportunity to be pro-actively involved with reviewing the car parking strategy in Tavistock.

'Clearly, any increase in charges during this current economic climate is unwelcome.

'However, the willingness of the council to listen to the business community is a key positive feature; this has helped to craft a new set of car parking rates which we feel will mitigate against any significant loss of business to local traders.'

Jonathan Richards, representing the Chagford and District Business Association, said: 'We have been involved with this advisory body since its inception and we are very pleased to have been invited to be part of such an important decision-making process.

'We trust that this co-operation will continue and even expand into other areas with the same beneficial results.'

As a result of the decision, town centre short stay car parking charges remain 50p for 30 minutes, £1 for an hour and £1.80 for two hours.

The three-hour charges rise to £2.20 from £2, the four-hour charge increases from £3 to £3.50 and all day charges rise from £6 to £6.50.

In the long stay Riverside and Mill Road car parks, charges have increased by 20p, and in Chagford and Hatherleigh, the three and four hour charges have risen by 20p and 40p.

Season ticket prices in Tavistock town centre have increased to £720 for 12 months, £430 for six months and £250 for three months.

In Mill Road and Riverside, they are now £240, £150 and £85 and at Chagford and Hatherleigh, £180, £110 and £65.