South Hams businesses 'deeply concerned' over plans to hike parking prices for tourists

Residents and businesses in the South Hams area say they are "deeply concerned" about plans to hike car parking prices.

South Hams District Council wants to implement a two-tier parking system from April, where non-residents will have to pay more to park than local people - citing cost pressures as the reason why.

The authority will be one of the first in England to introduce a scheme of this nature. It will impact around 30 car parks in the busiest towns, including Dartmouth, Totnes, Ivybridge, Salcombe and Kingsbridge.

Julian Chudley, a business owner from Dartmouth, said: "I don't think these plans have been thought through, it's deeply concerning.

"We depend on tourists and if the tourists struggle to park here, no-one is going to be happy and it's already expensive enough.

"It's just using Dartmouth as a cash cow. It will certainly impact my business, every time they put prices up, somebody is going to stay away."

Some businesses in Dartmouth are concerned about the price hike. Credit: ITV West Country

Visitors are being classed as anyone from outside the South Hams area, and residents will be able to apply to a discount scheme by registering their number plate through an app.

For example, during the high season at the main car park in Dartmouth, Mayors Avenue, it costs £1.50 to park for one hour - but this could go up to £1.90 for residents and £2.50 for visitors.

For four hours, it is currently £6 but this could increase to £7 for residents and £8 for visitors.

South Hams District Council is running a consultation which ends on Sunday 5 January, asking residents for their views.

Some people have given their thoughts to ITV West Country. One said: "I've lived in London before, and the prices in South Hams aren't that bad. Therefore, I do think it's reasonable.

"But it does need to be a mixed economy, there needs to be some free parking, some pricing and if tourists are paying a bit more then that's fine by me."

Another said: "The price increase may well put people off, because obviously when you go away, it's very often on a budget, so you have to take that into account."

Council leader, Julian Brazil, said cost pressures mean parking prices have to rise. Credit: ITV West Country

Julian Brazil, leader of South Hams District Council, said "finances are stretched", and they need to raise £1 million in 2025.

He said: "We have just come under so much cost pressures and now with the latest government settlement where they've cancelled our rural delivery grant, and haven't reimbursed us for all the increase in national insurance.

"We have to sure up our revenue position. We started looking at cutting our discretionary services, like public toilets and leisure centres, but we just thought we cannot do that.

"These services are what our local community really values, so in order to keep them we need to put up parking prices."

The consultation ends on Sunday 5 January and the council is expected to make a final decision by the end of the month.