THE controversial proposal to introduce pay and display parking in Tavistock town centre has sparked an extraordinary meeting of the town council, to which all members of the public are invited.

Councillors reacted with fury to the proposals at their meeting on Tuesday, claiming the county council, which wants to see pay and display meters installed in a raft of Devon's market towns, was making decisions before consulting with local residents, the business community and councils.

Cllr Anne Johnson said: 'I certainly don't remember any consultation regarding this. It needs to be done at grass-roots — I think it's disgraceful to have this forced upon us like this, it's just not good enough.

'I support the idea of a public meeting — we need to know what the public think, although my belief is they are not in favour of it at all.'

Cllr Harry Smith said there was a 'complete dismissal' of the views of local government on the part of the county council, which had decided advertising the traffic orders prior to a consultation was a more 'streamlined' approach.

Wayne Southall, the council's works superintendent, said following investigations, he had discovered that almost without exception, other town councils in Devon affected by the proposals were angry at the lack of consultation by the county council and wished to 'put on a united front' in their opposition to pay and display in their towns.'They all want to fight the concept,' said Mr Southall.

But Cllr Debo Sellis, the town's county councillor, said while she appreciated fears over on-street pay and display, the deficit in parking enforcement for West Devon was £75,000. She said the provision of free half hour parking spaces in the town centre could mean that turnover would increase, making it easier for people to park.

She also said any surplus raised from on-street parking had to be used for transport purposes — and bus services in the county would be facing huge pressure under the comprehensive spending review.

The council agreed unanimously to hold an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, December 1, at 6.30pm in the town hall. The public will be allowed to have their say, and a formal resolution can then be made in the light of the debate. Anyone with a view on the county council's pay and display proposals for Tavistock is very welcome to attend.