PLANS to make a car park at the Alexander Centre in Tavistock available to the public and introduce charges could hit people who attend courses and activities there, a borough councillor has said.

Devon County Council is proposing to open the adult learning and community centre car park on Plymouth Road, which has 27 spaces, to the public and charge from 8am to 8pm seven days a week.

The move has been championed by Devon County councillor for Tavistock Debo Sellis who has been tasked with trying to find much needed car parking space in the town.

But one of the town's borough councillors, Jeff Moody, said it could create parking problems for people using the centre, which in time could affect the viability of the place — it is used by the pre school and adult learning groups.

Cllr Moody said: 'My concern is that if it is opened up to members of the public, the people who attend activities and courses there will not be able to find a place to park. If that occurs on a regular basis they may very well stop using the centre altogether.

'On one hand Devon County Council is saying it needs to increase adult learning and on the other hand it is proposing to bring in these charges.

'It does not help that Tavistock councillors have not been consulted on this. It's a situation where we should have some joined up thinking so we can all discuss it.'

Cllr Sellis said that when Devon County Council's plan to introduce parking meters was thrown out, following public outrage, she was tasked with finding a solution to the town's parking problems.

County councillors were asked to work with highways officers to put together a parking strategy and Cllr Sellis said she had met chamber of commerce members, borough and town councillors and residents to talk about the issues.

She said if 750 houses were to be built in Tavistock in line with the core strategy or blueprint for development over the next 15 years, the town needed to have the infrastructure in place.

'I am looking at park and ride for the town and other ideas,' she said.

'The residents do not want on-street parking so we have to look at other ways to make it easier for people to park.

'In this part of town there is a lack of parking for the bowls club, the tennis club and Harewood House residential home next door to the Alexander Centre.

'By opening up this car park to everyone at all times it will provide much needed car parking space.'

Comments on the traffic order for pay and display parking at the Alexander Centre have to be made to Devon County Council by August 16.