WEST Devon Borough Council's community services committee members have recommended that two coach parking bays in Mill Road Car Park should stay — despite a petition of 104 signatures, e-mails and letters of objection. 

Members decided to take on board the fears of residents over the safety of coaches entering and leaving the car park and the possibility of pollution. They decided to add a rider to monitor the operation — and to continue searching for a more permanent and safe solution for a coach park for the town. 

The town council and the chamber of trade have been calling for a coach park for the town for 15 years in order to help increase footfall and boost the local economy. 

Three coach bays were painted in the car park last spring in anticipation of the 2014 summer season. Following trial runs with 12-metre coaches, it was decided that one of the three bays was to be removed, giving larger coaches adequate access to the two remaining bays and providing the town with coach parking, a long-standing request from town traders.

The entrance way was made safer by persuading business Dartmoor Windows to park in the car park rather than in the entrance, using permits provided by the council. 

Despite the petition asking for the Mill Road site to be reassessed on safety grounds as it was not fit for purpose, the committee felt it was a step in the right direction and confirmed the amendment to the Off-Street Parking Places order to make the bays permanent. 

Cllr Kevin Ball, ward member for Okehampton East, said: 'I am fully in support of coach parking. This is something that has come up ever since I came to Okehampton.

'It is not perfect but it goes some way to get things going.' 

He said he would like to get the situation reviewed after 12 months to see how well the entrance way was working and how much pollution might affect nearby flat residents. 

Committee chairman Cllr Robert Sampson proposed an amendment that the council continues to search for a coach parking site which would provide a safe place for coach parking and a better long term solution. 

He said: 'This is an expedient but it must not halt the search for a long term solution.' 

It was carried unanimously along with the recommendation to full council that the two bays be made permanent and the parking orders amended.