THE large staff car park at West Devon Council's offices in Tavistock should be turned into a pay and display area, says a borough councillor.
Such a move would provide a financial boost to the cash-strapped council and set a good example to ratepayers, believes Independent member Ted Sherrell.
In a letter to the council's chief executive, David Incoll, he says a pay and display car park at the Kilworthy Park offices would be ideal for people working in the town who need to park their cars all day.
Cllr Sherrell says: 'The present financial plight which affects virtually all local councils has to concern us all and concentrate our minds.
'We are forced to make painful cuts, but we also need to look at ways to legitimately and fairly raise extra revenue to minimise such cuts.'
Cllr Sherrell says a portion of the existing car park could be retained for free use by senior council officers, the mayor and deputy mayor and those council employees who use their cars during the day as part of their duties.
A free area could also be set aside for the public visiting the offices, particularly the disabled. But the remainder of the 92-space car park should be pay and display.
'Council staff who work nine to five at the offices could avail themselves of the pay and display car park or make other arrangements,' he said.
'Those members of staff who live close by might find it more convenient to walk to work, thus making more spaces available.'
Cllr Sherrell says staff of West Devon Homes and Capita will shortly be leaving the Kilworthy Park offices for a base in the new library complex on Plymouth Road, thus freeing-up a considerable number of car parking spaces.
And he says there are more spaces at the council's Tavistock offices than at its Okehampton base, which also includes a weekly magistrates' court.
'Okehampton's operations do not seem to be adversely affected by having restricted car parking so if restrictions were imposed at Tavistock there is no reason to believe efficiency would be affected there.
'I realise it might cause some small inconvenience to staff, but, like councillors, they should have no preferential treatment over any other council tax payers in the community.
'As well as raising much-needed cash, it would be very good public relations — it would show the public we are aware of the escalating financial burden falling upon the shoulders of council tax payers and that we are prepared to take some action, albeit small, to try to ease it.'
The proposal was discussed briefly last week at a staff consultative forum by senior council officers, councillors and representatives of the staff's union, Unison.