THE £2-a-day parking charge introduced in Tavistock earlier this year to boost trade is having the desired effect, as businesses report as much as a 20% increase in turnover.

The charge has reduced the cost of all day parking by up to £4.50 per day in some car parks and this is having a noticeable effect on the footfall through the town.

People are staying longer, visiting more shops and cafés and having more time to browse.

West Devon Borough Council introduced the flat rate all-day fee in its long stay car parks in Tavistock and Okehampton in April after lobbying from local business groups.

The new charge was implemented for a period of 12 months to see if it would have an impact on trade. There are still short stay options for shoppers wanting to be in and out of the towns as quickly as possible.

Tavistock BID manager Lisa Piper said: We've had really good feedback from the businesses in the town. Businesses have seen increased sales which have been attributed to the new £2 car parking tickets.

'People are spending longer in Tavistock and they're spending more time in the shops. We've also had positive comments from cafés in Tavistock who say that because customers can stay all day for £2, they stay longer drinking and eating in the cafés.'

Boutique owner Bridget Foley said: 'We have noticed a lot more people have been coming in the shop and they are much more relaxed because they have time to browse.

'Some people come in, try on a beautiful outfit, go away for a couple of hours and then come back and buy it.

'Before, they would have gone home because they did not have time to think about it or come back.

'We have seen about a 20 per cent increase in the number of shoppers I would say.

'People are coming and enjoying Tavistock for the whole day and it is such a lovely town to spend time in. We have a lot of independent shops and plenty to stay for.'

Jeweller John Baldwin said it was a wonderful idea to reduce the parking for all day and he said the footfall increase had been 'massive'.

'I do think it is really important though, that we still cater for the short stay shoppers and some better signage for the different car parks would be good,' he said.

Karen Prescott from Karen's café said normally the beginning part of the week was quite quiet, but since the £2 parking was introduced the café had been really busy.

'We are run off our feet which is fantastic,' she said.

'I do hope they continue this scheme beyond the year because the high street needs this.'

Chairman of BID Tony Whitehead said he believed the new street signage that would be advertising shops situated away from the main high street would be another factor in helping boost the town's trade. He said he hoped they would be in place by the end of July.

'We want people to experience all the hidden treasures of Tavistock,' he said.

Chairman of Tavistock Chamber of Trade Neil Taynton-Young said the car parking option at £2 a day had been generally well received through the business community.

'Anything that can help promote a positive and high-churning footfall into the town is something that we like to see as a chamber,' he said.

Street scene manager for West Devon Borough Council Cathy Aubertin said there had also been an increase in the number of tickets sold in the short stay car parks across Tavistock.

'This means there are more spaces in the long stay car parks for those who do wish to park all day,' she said.