A U-TURN over increased car parking fees in West Devon could be in the pipeline after councillors demanded a rethink last week.
The recent proposal to hike up hourly rates by 10p in borough council car parks prompted outrage in Okehampton and Tavistock from traders and business groups worried the increase would drive shoppers away.
The council has also appointed a car parking manager — the total cost of the post is £25,000.
At the council's policy committee meeting, Cllr David Whitcomb demanded a review of the proposals which had caused 'great anger'.
'I have had a large number of representations from people about the cost of car parking charges,' he said.
'Do we need a manager? I don't think we do. I'm a local person and a lot of people have said to me "Is this really necessary?"
'We want it to be looked at again.'
Cllr Dick Eberlie said the increases had caused 'wide and considerable concern' among shoppers and businesspeople in Okehampton and Tavistock.
He urged the council to do all it could within its 'very tight' budget, to help promote the economic development of West Devon.
'We must do more to keep our towns prosperous,' he said.
Cllr Eberlie said if other councillors had received similar lobbying from members of the public, the situation should be given 'careful consideration' and the decision reconsidered if necessary.
But Cllr Peter Hill, policy committee chairman, said no more money would be given to the strategic committee responsible for car parking.
He said: 'They are going back to look at it. The budget is actually decided next month, so between now and then there is always a certain amount of jockeying around, but it's extremely hard, particularly this year.'
Mark Hall, the borough's head of commercial services, said: 'We are going through a formal consultation so we will be putting notices in the paper and in the car parks — people will have three weeks to respond.'
Mr Hall said councillors will go through the responses, a report will be prepared and a final decision will be made at the council's strategic development meeting in March.
A car parking supervisor has already been appointed at a salary of around £17,000 — the total cost of the post came to £25,000, said Mr Hall.
'The job is desperately needed — all the things we have been criticised for but just haven't had the bodies, that person will be able to do,' he said.
The car park supervisor will make sure health and safety standards are met in car parks, consult with the public and relevant agencies and oversee secured parking among other duties, Mr Hall said.
Okehampton Chamber of Trade was 'incensed' by the decision to increase parking charges and its chairman Ian Bailey said this week the group would continue to lobby councillors to get it halted.
'I am pleased this issue is to be discussed again — it's a step in the right direction' he said. 'Cars are a fact of life. It is no use penalising the motorist all the time.'
'The chamber is wholeheartedly against any rise. There is no justification for it. We want to encourage visitors and shoppers here, not discourage them by over-pricing the car parks.'
Mr Bailey said chamber members were 'flabbergasted' by the car park manager's salary.
'How complicated is it to run a few car parks?' he said. 'We do not think it warrants this kind of expenditure especially when the council is trying to reduce a deficit of £30,000.'
A spokesman for Waitrose, whose shoppers use the council's car park adjacent to the store, said the company was aware of the concerns regarding the car parking charges and was looking to see if there was anything it could do to help the situation.