IT was good to read the headline news last week — ‘Minister’s praise for a fabulous town centre’, but is he aware of the fact that we are probably the only town  in the country to close  our main car park at night?

Tavistock is becoming increasingly popular in the evenings  with a good variety of restaurants and pubs, events in the town hall,  Wharf theatre, concerts in the Parish church etc.  

Last Sunday evening, at approx 7.30pm, most of the main car park was inaccessible.

The Wharf car park was full,  only a couple of spaces available in the small car park adjacent to the old court house and nearly all roadside parking spaces surrounding the town centre  were also occupied.  It should be noted that this was a Sunday evening, which is usually relatively quiet in Tavistock.

Had there been a big event on in the town hall and a concert in the church (which can attract in the region of 400 people), trying to park anywhere near the centre would have been impossible.

I realise that the decision to close the car park in the evenings was a result of the behaviour of a few mindless individuals, but surely there must be another solution rather than allowing the few to  ruin the majority’s activities.  

I am also wondering how many  people are aware that on Saturday mornings, most of the main car park (including the disabled spaces) is inaccessible, with the gate shut, until approx 9.30am  due to cycling proficiency training for youngsters?  I understand that those supervising the training will let disabled drivers in if asked, but there should be a sign on the gate to indicate this.

The decision to introduce  £2 all day parking in the West Devon Borough council carparks is, I am sure, going to prove to be very beneficial  to all businesses in Tavistock.   

One solution to the night time problem, bearing in mind the fact that the police do not have the necessary resources, might  be to consider locking the gate later in the evening — for example, 10pm.

Daniel Leonard-Williams

Tavistock