THE possible introduction of an experimental pay and display charge of £2 in long-stay car parks in Tavistock and Okehampton has been shelved, pending further consideration.

At West Devon Borough Council's community services committee meeting on October 28, members heard how the West Devon car parking strategy group had considered the issue of pay and display charges.

As a result of the group's meeting on September 10, it was resolved by the group to request that the council consider introducing a flat £2 tariff in all long-stay car parks, initially as a pilot scheme so the impact may be closely monitored, both in terms of car park income and in the effect on the footfall in the towns.

It had been calculated that the tariff would be neutral to the borough council in terms of income but it should be monitored for three months.

If the initiative was successful, showing the borough council's income was not reduced and the footfall in the towns increased, then the scheme could be extended a further three months, with further monitoring and assessment.

However, during the meeting on October 28, members felt that the scheme could affect visitors to the town wanting long-term spaces as under the initiative, the spaces could be taken up by early workers, reducing the availability of long-stay spaces for shoppers and tourists.

Cllr Terry Pearce said: 'I think it's just been thrown together.

'I think doing a half day charge rather than a whole day charge would be much better.'

But Cllr David Cloake said: 'I think that this £2 a day is worth trying — a good alternative from the pay on exit scheme.'

Members were concerned with the amount of questions the initiative raised and the fact that the public had not been consulted in the process.

Cllr Robert Sampson, chair of the meeting, said: 'This should go back to the car parking strategy group to address the points raised.'

A spokesperson for West Devon Borough Council said: 'West Devon Borough Council's community services committee decided that a proposal from the car parking strategy group to charge £2 a day for parking in long-stay car parks in Tavistock and Okehampton be referred back for further consideration.'