Traders concerned by town parking price rise plan

Traders in a Devon town say they are concerned about the "detrimental effect" of council proposals to more than double parking charges.

The proposed changes could see one hour's parking in Ivybridge increase from 70p to £1.50 and all day prices rise from £2.10 to £7.50 at the council's Glanvilles Mill Car Park.

Business owner Sue Hawkins says Ivybridge is "a vibrant town, because the parking is affordable" and that the increase would have a "detrimental effect on the community".

South Hams District Council is set to vote on the decision on Wednesday.

Ms Hawkins said shoppers had told her they could not afford the new charges and would not come to the town if they were put in place.

"If this goes up to the price that they want it to go up to, then it will be empty," she added.

Ivybridge Chamber of Commerce chairman Matt Steele said: "People come here for day-to-day things.

"If they can't come here, then they will go elsewhere and the town will ultimately suffer and revenue for the council will go down."

Councillor Julian Brazil said the council did not want to put their prices up but needed to "balance their books".

He said: "Prices have gone up, the businesses would have had to put up their prices in the last few years as well.

"They don't want to, neither do we, but that's the fact of life.

"If you want to balance your books you've got to cut your cloth accordingly."

Brazil added he understood the concerns but did not believe the price change would stop people visiting.

He said: "If people don't come and use our car parks then we are not going to get the revenue.

"We don't want to set up a situation where our car parks are empty, so we think we have to get the right balance."

The council said South Hams residents could apply for a £5 permit that would give them £1 off the price of an all day ticket.

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