Drivers have been warned to expect parking increases in a popular tourist town despite huge backlash from residents which could come into effect early next year.
South Hams District Council is currently looking at raising parking fares across the borough for the first time in almost four years.
The move comes after the council warned it could “no longer absorb the significant rising costs of delivering services that residents and businesses value” with the authority now “regrettably considering increasing charges”.
The hike would affect all council-owned car parks across the South Hams area, although the council did state it would still be less than parking charges at similar tourist areas across Devon and Cornwall.
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Parking charges will align more closely with inflation
PACouncillor Victor Abbott said: “For four years we have frozen our prices, but we can’t keep doing this with increasing costs. The new changes ensure that visitors make a fairer contribution to the cost of the services they use but reflect the views of our larger town councils that visitors shouldn’t pick up the full bill.
“This latest proposed scheme means residents will pay a little less than the advertised car parking rates; while still valuing our visitors and the impact they have on our local economy and keep charges as competitive as possible across the whole of the region.
“We are being open and transparent and everyone will be given the opportunity to give us their views in a public consultation before a final decision is taken.”
Parking charges have been frozen and were last raised by the council in April 2021, when prices went up by four per cent.
Under the new proposal, parking charges will align with inflation and new tariffs would be displayed in car parks and on the mobile cashless app.
Currently, charges vary depending on which car parks drivers use, with the report also setting out how to standardise charges.
A resident discount scheme would be launched to limit the impact on locals, with the new higher charges only being paid for by tourists.
According to reports, car parking income is used to fund street cleaning, including the maintenance of public toilets, litter picking and bin emptying, which cost the council more than £3million last year.
At a council meeting last week, Councillor Jonathan Hawkins explained that feedback has been mixed with some residents warning the charges could potentially cause ”further damage to our town centres”.
Councillor Nicky Hopwood added: “Why are we hitting on visitors? We need to be encouraging visitors into our towns for the sake of our businesses.
“And the cost of implementing this, because it is so complicated, is going to outweigh the benefits. We should re-think the whole thing. It is sending out a negative message to tourists, and my concern is that businesses will suffer.”
However, Councillor Julian Brazil suggested the council could introduce a “continental-style” tourist tax which would ensure that residents are not impacted.
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Parking changes would look to primarily impact tourists with residents able to apply for discounts
GETTYHe said: “When people come here they pay hundreds if not thousands of pounds a week to stay in cottages and apartments. We’re asking them to pay 50p.
“I wish we didn’t have to do this, but I think this is the fairest way of doing it, with locals paying a little bit more, and visitors paying a bit more on top of that. It means we protect our locals who are here all year round.”
The council is expected to make its final decision in January 2025.
