CARE workers visiting clients in their homes across Devon will soon be permitted to park for free on single and double yellow lines for up to an hour if alternative parking isn’t available.

Devon County Council’s Cabinet approved extending the Care Workers Parking Exemption Scheme on December 12.

Currently the scheme allows care workers, social care staff and health staff who use on-street parking while delivering essential services to residents in their own homes, to use a special permit.

This allows them to park on-street without time limit for free in limited waiting, on street pay and display and residents’ parking bays.

Once legal work is completed and new permits issued, the extension will also allow them to park on roads with single and double yellow lines — but only if nearby alternative parking isn’t available.

The news has been welcomed by local care agencies.

Devon and Cornwall Care Services’ director Pauline Hilton said: ‘This is brilliant news that we have been given this leeway — I think it will help our carers with their work especially in such congested areas in the town and in the villages. Our carers will be really pleased. This will benefit other companies in the same situation — it will help the industry.’

Director of Tavy Care Chris Wiles added: ‘This is a fabulous move by the council which can only benefit both carers and the clients in the community. While we strive to provide adequate time for our carers to reach appointments, things can occur to delay staff and this is certainly a welcome step by the local authority.’

In line with the existing exemption, carers will be required to display a permit and a timeclock similar to those found on blue badges.

The proposals follow a recent online consultation of 150 care workers — 89% agreed that including yellow lines in the scheme would make their jobs easier and 80% said it would help them care for their clients.

Almost 65% said it would help them manage stress and most said that parking near their clients’ homes would help them feel safer if they were working alone.

It is expected that the change will come into force in the next financial year, from April.

Cllr Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet member for highways management, said: ‘Since the present permit was launched many care workers have said that parking remains an issue and as a consequence I endorsed an extension to the scheme to include double and single yellow lines.

‘Care workers and agencies will need to apply for an official two-part permit and parking will only be permitted if there is no nearby alternative.

‘We recognise the pressures the sector is under and that’s why we will not charge for these permits.’