I AM told there was much complaint about the car parking in Tavistock at the town meeting on April 28.
Parking is controlled by West Devon Borough Council to which the town elects only about 10% of its members. With such a minority presence it is naive to expect any voluntary improvement in the present unsatisfactory position.
The borough council obtains 90% of its parking revenue, about £400,000 per annum, from Tavistock. In a sense the town?s residents and visitors are paying a disproportionate amount for wide ranging facilities enjoyed hy the rest of the borough residents.
Indeed the situation illustrates how little regard the borough council has for Tavistock as a market town and tourist centre. Their only interest in car parking is to maximise their revenue. Were it otherwise they would not close the public lavatories in the early evening, much to the inconvenience of residents and visitors.
The ever increasing use of cars, coaches and lorries makes necessary a radical change in the management of the town?s parking.
This was obvious in May 2000 when road traffic was much lighter than now. It was then suggested to the town council that they assume that responsibility.
Their answer was that ?it was unlikely to receive support from West Devon Borough Council as the incomes from the car parks are an important part of their budget.? It should be an important part of the town council?s budget.
Under town council management, fees could be reduced to a third of their present level and the income would pay for longer daily access and modernisation of the public lavatories; updating the Meadows leisure area and other attractions for tourists and residents; the return of parking facilities at the multi-storey car park to residents and businesses in Brook Street, and much else.
The supine acceptance of the status quo by the former town council mentioned above is no longer acceptable. In this respect we must return to truly local government.
G Kirkpatrick
Parkwood Road
Tavistock