A CAMPAIGN to drive vehicles off Tavistock's Bedford Square has this week been launched, following a steady increase in parked cars in the area in recent weeks.
The joint campaign is being run by Devon County Council, the police and Tavistock Town Council, who are concerned the vehicles could be dangerous to pedestrians and damaging to the surface of the square.
Paul Marshall, Devon County Council's principal traffic engineer, said special leaflets were being fixed to cars by Tavistock's traffic warden, warning them of the consequences.
Mr Marshall said: 'I am hoping responsible drivers will take these warnings on board and park where they ought to, on the road or in a car park.
'It's a great shame people have chosen to do this, because the whole area is there for the community to enjoy, not for drivers to abuse by parking on it.
'It is an offence to drive on and off the pavement and I have asked the police to advise motorists of this.'
The leaflets warn drivers of the danger, inconvenience and damaged caused by parking on pavements and informs motorists that action is likely to be taken against those who continually break the law.
Mr Marshall said the county council is in the process of preparing a new traffic order, which will ban parking on the square, apart from vehicles connected with specific events being held there, for example, the Friday market stallholders whose vans are an integral part of their business.
The draft order will be submitted to the Department of Transport for approval. Once this has been obtained, the order will be advertised and become law 'at the earliest opportunity' said Mr Marshall.
Sgt Paul Hunter, of Tavistock Police, said officers would be monitoring the situation on Bedford Square.
Sgt Hunter said: 'Parking on a pavement is an offence, irrespective of whether there is a traffic order in operation or not, and the police will certainly consider taking action. Pavements are for people, not for cars.'
The paved area of Bedford Square is owned by Devon County Council, apart from the cobbled area in front of the pannier market gates and the original pavement area in front of the town hall, which are owned by the town council.
Town clerk Roger Howard said the council was aware of the problems of people parking on Bedford Square and was working with the county to resolve the problem. He said anyone parking on the cobbled area would be clamped and would have to pay a release fee to the council.