CAR parking charges in West Devon will rise from April 1, borough councillors decided this week despite pleas to meet the council's shortfall by other means.
The controversial plans by West Devon Borough Council to meet a £38,000 revenue shortfall in the budget have provoked outrage from Tavistock and Okehampton chambers of trade who fear the move will drive shoppers away.
But members of the council's policy and resources committee were told this week that the reason why the proposals were more contentious this time was because the one-hour stay charge had not been put up since 1995 — the plan is to add 10p to the one and two hour charges.
Cllr Nick Morgan suggested that the rise be put on hold whilst a review was carried out by the new car parking supervisor and the council's shortfall be met in another way.
Cllr Ted Sherrell said it was unfair that the people of Tavistock and Okehampton were subsidising other council-owned car parks in smaller towns and villages throughout the borough that were free to park in.
Members were told that one of the alternatives to increasing car parking charges was an increase of £4 on the annual council tax bill to all ratepayers in the borough.
Cllr Nick Waterhouse said it appeared that the objections about the rise came from people who lived in the towns and special interest groups.
Cllr Dick Eberlie said West Devon depended on active and prosperous business and the council had to be careful when considering the so called 'special interest groups'.
Committee members heard that the charges in West Devon were comparable to other towns in the area and a study revealed the one-hour charge in Exeter was 60p and in Plymouth 70p.
Cllr Roger Mathew said the rise was not popular but neither was it unreasonable.