INCREASING costs of maintenance, dealing with fly tipping and fuel costs has forced the Maristowe Estate into introducing charges at its Leg O' Mutton car parks, the company said this week, amid criticism from the local community. Local businesses are concerned their livelihoods will be affected by the charges which will come into effect in the next couple of weeks. The car park at Leg 'O Mutton, which serves ten businesses, residential properties, flats run by Mencap and a playpark, has been free to motorists as far back as people can remember. Two years ago, planning permission was given by Dartmoor National Park to erect ticket machines and meters at the car park in the main trading area and at St Paul's Church car park. At the time there was anger from local traders who said the free car park was the only thing that gave them an advantage over larger shopping centres. Richard Eales from the Corner Shop said because nothing had happened since planning permission was given, people were under the impression that Maristowe may have changed its mind. 'Pay and display signs appeared last Thursday and yellow lines are being painted on the road,' he said. 'Within the next couple of weeks the charges are apparently going to be introduced without any consultation with the residents or business owners.' Mr Eales said his customers were not at all happy: 'I don't know what effect it is going to have on the road because people are saying they will not use the pay and display. There will be cars everywhere. It would have been better if we had had some warning. It has all been done in a cloak and dagger style.' Matron at the Devonia Residential Home Jean Sheriff she was under the impression there was going to be some sort of consultation before the charges came into force: 'For many, many years my staff have had the wonderful facility of free parking. 'It is not easy to get staff and they are really top-notch. It has been rather nice to offer them something a little bit extra in terms of free parking.' The matron said she would be asking about the possibility of permits for staff and for the doctor and other professionals who visited the home. Managing agent for Maristowe Estate Joseph Hess said he did not recall saying that there would be consultation before implementation: 'It is important that people are aware, given the rising costs of working with the Dartmoor National Park and West Devon Borough Council in keeping on top of the litter, the maintenance costs and the rising costs of fuel, that the estate cannot continue to offer free parking. Fly tipping in particular costs us a tremendous amount of money.' He said introducing charges at Yelverton was part of a review of all the company's land and resources: 'The estate has signed an agreement with a parking company and the charges will certainly be lower than other car parks in an effort to mitigate the potential impact of implementation. 'The main focus of this is to try and combat all-day parking at the church car park and move long stay parking into the Leg o' Mutton car park.' He also said that the car park would be a good stop-off point for the users of the new cycle path because Yelverton was a 'hub' with its shops, toilets and other facilities. There will be no charges on Sunday in St Paul's Church car park.
