District council aims to simplify its car parking tariffs and parking permits

East Devon District Council is considering plans to simplify its car parking tariffs and parking permits.

The proposals for ‘a fairer system’ will be debated by the EDDC Cabinet on Wednesday, September 5.

A series of recommendations follow a review of both the charges in some of the council’s pay and display car parks and the types of parking permits the council offers.

The public was invited to comment on the proposals during an eight week consultation and the vast majority supported holding the basic tariff at £1 an hour in most pay and display car parks.

The Cabinet report proposes to base the car parking offer on just three basic charging schemes:

* Coastal long stay - £1 per hour, £6 maximum for up to 24 hours.

* Inland long stay - £1 per hour, £3 maximum for up to 24 hours.

* Short stay - £1 per hour, £3 maximum for up to 4 hours.

It is also proposed to introduce one simple car parking permit that will potentially meets their needs of many residents at a lower cost than previously.

No changes are being proposed to the popular two, three, four and seven-day explorer tickets.

Car parking charges in 41 of the 46 pay and display car parks are recommended to stay the same,

Cllr Geoff Pook, EDDC asset management spokesman said: “The council has listened carefully to what has been said during the public consultation and the Cabinet report recommendations reflect the view of the respondents.”

Recommendations include:

2. Add Coombe Lane car park, Axminster and Dolphin Street car park, Colyton to the group of car parks charging the inland long stay tariff - £1 per hour, maximum charge of £3 for up to 24 hours.

Discontinue All-East Devon, Economy, Town/Area and Resident car parking permits and replace them with modular car parking permits valid for £100 per year for any single location plus additional locations at £20 per location per year, capped at £200 per year for an “all car parks” permit.

Offer a two-year introductory discount for £100 single location permits purchased by customers who currently have a valid resident permit for Colyton. The discount will be 50 per cent in 2019 and 25 per cent in 2020 reverting to full price for permits purchased from 2021.

Introduce All-East Devon business permits for £500 per year.