LIBERAL Democrat Councillors in Crediton have demanded that Conservative controlled Mid Devon District Council abandon plans for huge increases in parking charges in its car parks. 

Speaking as he met with a representative of employees at Crediton company, Ernest Jackson on Monday (February 20), former Crediton Mayor, Councillor Frank Letch (Lawrence), said: “The Conservatives are planning increases beyond even the spiralling inflation they have caused.

“A 10 per cent increase in parking charges would be bad during this cost of living crisis but increases of over 60 per cent are ludicrous. 

“This will hit local people hard. Take employees here at Ernest Jackson who use the St Saviour’s car park to park for work.

“They will see a rise in their annual daily parking permit from £310 to £547.50. That’s a whopping increase of 76 per cent. 

“One employee said to me: ‘This is scandalous. I really won’t have much option but to park in the streets around Crediton’, this clearly would not be good for local residents.” 

Councillor Jim Cairney (Boniface) commented: “I run a small business in Crediton High Street. Like other local businessmen and traders I’m really worried what this will do to high street businesses. The Conservatives have abandoned any pretence that they support business.” 

Town Councillor Guy Cochran (Lawrence) said: “The Liberal Democrats collected signatures for a petition to Council this past weekend at the Farmers’ Market. I’ve never seen the public so incensed. We had queues waiting to sign the petition.” 

Councillor John Downes (Boniface) commented: “These wild increases have left many in Crediton in shock, especially the shops on the high street. The Liberal Democrats will be taking this up at Council and doing what we can to set more realistic charges.”