Reducing parking charges, better signage, more public toilets and benches were just some of the ideas put forward by the public to improve the high street and town centre in Honiton.

Honiton and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry received an overwhelming response from the local community after announcing it would be setting up a committee to look at ways of enhancing the town centre and encouraging more shoppers. Members of the community were urged to submit their own ideas to the chamber.

The chamber will not only be looking at the High Street but also the Lace Walk and Black Lion Court shopping areas.

Speaking at a breakfast meeting of the chamber, chairman Colin Wright said: “The price of car parking came up, which we are addressing at the moment.

“We are looking at a lot of things. We are compiling all the suggestions together.”

Mr Wright explained the chamber is continuing to lobby for concessions to parking charges in the town. He added: “We have got concessions. At the moment you get four hours for the price of three.

“We are trying to get car parking prices down.”

The meeting heard that the East Devon Chambers of Commerce had met with East Devon District Council to discuss car parking across the district.

Local MP Neil Parish, who represents Honiton, said the Government did not interfere a great deal in these matters but he would speak to the district council.

Mr Wright explained that in addition to parking charges, convenient and plentiful customer parking was also brought up as areas to look at as well as pedestrian access and the planting of trees and flowers. There were also calls for better signage on roads leading into the town.

“It has given us other ideas,” added Mr Wright. “We are going to be having a meeting with Transition Town Honiton and Honiton Town Council and will be bringing up the ideas with a view to trying to act on some of them. Some of it will be straight forward – hanging baskets is something we can address - but it does all come down to money.

“Some good will come out of this. It was a very good response and very positive and we will act on this.”