THE people of Crediton who took part in a Crediton Town Council survey about Devon County Council’s proposal to introduce parking charges on Crediton High Street have voted firmly that they do not want charges to be introduced.
Crediton Town Council received 1,328 responses and the questions and results were:
Do you support on-street parking charging proposals? 96 per cent said No, one per cent said Yes and one per cent said Maybe.
What is your connection to Crediton? Resident 68 per cent, Visitor 16 per cent, Retail four per cent and Other, six per cent.
How often do you use free on street parking in Crediton High Street or roads adjacent to the Town Square? Once a week 25 per cent, Twice a week 26 per cent, Three times a week 22 per cent and Four times a week or more 26 per cent.
Would your use of the High Street change if the proposed scheme was introduced? Yes 79 per cent, No 16 per cent, Maybe three per cent.
If yes, how would the frequency of your visits change? More frequent none, Less frequent 52 per cent, Frequency would not change none, Would not visit 46 per cent.
Crediton Town Council undertook the initial survey to feed back local feeling to Devon County Council as they progressed their own plans for each town.
The Town Council wrote to both County Councillor Stuart Hughes (Cabinet Member for Highway Management) and to Meg Booth (DCC’s Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport) expressing its concern over the plans and the strength of feeling within the community, but a response from County Councillor Hughes suggested that plans were moving forward.
Town Clerk Rachel Avery said: “Whilst I know many people will be frustrated by the introduction of on street parking charges, we have attempted to work with DCC to reduce the impact on our high street businesses and visitors.
“This includes a free one-hour space (with a ticket) and the removal of bank holiday restrictions. DCC will be undertaking its consultation, and I urge all those who responded to our survey to respond to DCC.”
Crediton Town Council will discuss the findings at a future meeting and it is expected that the Council will form an opinion which it will then submit to Devon County Council.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Last week the County Council invited people can give their views on proposals to introduce Pay and Display parking in key areas in Braunton, Crediton, Dartmouth, Honiton, Okehampton, Salcombe, Sidmouth and Tavistock.
Eight Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO), one for each community, will be advertised shortly and will set out Devon County Council’s (DCC) proposals – the commencement date of each TRO is highlighted below.
The public will then have 21 days to view the proposals and comment through the parking pages on: DCC’s website: https://www.devon.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/parking/traffic-regulation-orders/proposed-pay-and-display/ .
The proposals follow a review of parking management agreed by DCC’s Cabinet in November last year.
They aim to bring the parking policy in Braunton, Crediton, Dartmouth, Honiton, Okehampton, Salcombe, Sidmouth and Tavistock, into line with Devon’s other larger communities.
Pay and Display parking is widely used, both across Devon and nationally, with well-established schemes in communities such as Bideford, Barnstaple, Newton Abbot, Totnes, Exmouth and Exeter.
Following discussions with local members and community representatives, the proposals also include one-hour free parking in the new Pay and Display spaces in all eight communities.
ONE HOUR FREE
It says this is to ensure that the new parking policy strikes the right balance of keeping costs down for users while delivering the benefits we have identified.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “I understand there may be concerns about Pay and Display, and that is why we have talked to local groups and elected members to ensure that the first hour parking is free.
“Pay and Display has been in place in many communities in Devon for some years and we believe it is one of the components that is needed to ensure a healthy high street and community.
“It encourages turnover of parking spaces thereby increasing the availability of town centre parking in busy areas, it reduces congestion and may encourage some to walk and cycle more.”
All schemes will be advertised on the DCC news webpages: http://devon.cc/payanddisplay from late November/early December.
Comments received through the consultation will be considered before any final decision is made.
The advertisement dates are:
Braunton; November 30: Crediton: November 30: Dartmouth: November 30; Honiton; November 29: Okehampton: November 30: Salcombe: TBC: Sidmouth: December 1: Tavistock: November 30.
• What do you think of the Devon County Council plans to introduce Pay and Display parking in Crediton High Street?
Share your views with fellow Crediton Courier readers.
Write a letter to: The Editorial Manager, Crediton Courier, 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF.
Please include your name, address and a daytime telephone number and if you do not wish to be named, please say so.
Alternatively, email your letter to: [email protected] .