street parking in Chagford could be limited to just two hours. The new proposal will be discussed at a meeting in Okehampton tomorrow (Friday). The Devon County Council parking scheme for Chagford puts forward several measures:- l a waiting restriction between 9am and 5pm, Mondays to Saturdays l designated loading spaces in the Square and Mill Street l four disabled parking spaces in the Square l bus stop ?clearways? and parking for two postal vehicles by the post office. The scheme, which will be discussed by West Devon?s highways and traffic orders committee (HATOC), has had a mixed reception in the town. Chris Webber, chairman of Chagford Business Association, said: ?There hasn?t been enough consultation ? I haven?t seen these plans, either directly to the business association or via the parish council. They are not readily available, which is an awful shame. ?The whole planning has been done without direct consultation ? we pay a fortune in business rates but we seem to get very little back in return.? And Mr Webber was doubtful the scheme would help the parking situation in Chagford. ?It?s going to have to be totally policed ? we only see a policeman about once a month ? and the cost of that is going to be high. ?I think until people start getting fined, they will continue ignoring restrictions, as they have done for the last ten years.? Mr Webber said the only real answer to Chagford?s parking problems was another car park. ?It?s all very well having these restrictions, but where are the cars going to go?? he said. Lyn Jones, of Chagford Bookshop, said: ?I don?t think two hours is long enough for people to do what they want to do, I think the town muddles along all right as it is. ?I think it?s an urban myth that?s grown up that you can?t park in Chagford. It?s like Chinese whispers.? Cllr Peter Hill, Chagford?s borough councillor, said it was ?very difficult? to solve the town?s parking issues. ?There?s no way around Chagford, you can?t avoid the square, the approach roads are narrow, everyone these days has cars and there is no opportunity for a car park at this time.? He thought restricted car parking would encourage a better turnover of available spaces. And Chagford Parish Council is broadly in favour of the proposals. Terry Bleakman, vice-chairman, said: ?For many years we?ve tried to operate a voluntarily restricted parking scheme ? unfortunately over the years, it has turned out to be unsuccessful. ?With more and more cars in the town we need a traffic management scheme to try and make sure traffic can flow in and out of the town, particularly emergency vehicles.? Mr Bleakman said the council also welcomed efforts the county had made to reduce the amount of traffic signage in an environmentally sensitive area like Chagford. Brian George, the county?s local service officer, prepared the report which will be presented to the HATOC on Friday. He said the current advisory parking management scheme in Chagford was implemented several years ago, after consultation with the community and police. Mr George said: ?Over time, the advisory scheme has become increasingly abused, creating significant problems to the free movement of vehicles, including public transport. ?Considerable growth in car ownership has made the situation worse and the available highway space cannot expand in the same way. ?The police find the advisory scheme very difficult to enforce ? local concern has been expressed within the community regarding street parking and the stranglehold it has on the town.? Mr George said the restricted parking proposals had been drawn up following extensive consultation in the town. He said the proposed scheme would bring about improvements to Chagford?s accessibility, economic viability, environment, safety and tourism ? though he conceded it was ?not possible? to introduce a scheme which satisified everyone, due to high demand for the available highway space. The HATOC is due to consider the proposals at the borough council?s offices in Okehampton at 2.15pm.
