Pay on exit mooted by business leaders for Lace Walk.

Business leaders in Honiton have set out their response to East Devon District Council’s consultation over car parks - and have called for Lace Walk car park to be used as the trial for a pay on exit system.

The idea was first mooted by Honiton and District Chamber of Commerce.

Members of the chamber’s executive committee said car parks in Silver Street and King Street should be retained - because they are convenient for shoppers.

“They can’t take any car parking away,” said membership secretary Sue Bewsey, who chaired the meeting, held at Allhallows Museum, in the absence of Colin Wright.

Mike Huxtable agreed. “They have got to stay as they are,” he insisted.

On the topic of permits, the chamber agreed that the present system is “fair” and should be “left alone”.

The chamber further agreed that the current balance of short and long stay spaces in the town is right.

However, it supports a cheaper hourly rate for longer stays and says the maximum time in short stay car parks should be increased from three to four hours - to keep shoppers in the town centre.

Mr Huxtable, a parking permit holder, said he is concerned about the council’s ‘no return’ policy.

“I’ve got to ask my wife where she has parked in the morning, so I park somewhere else if I have to go up the town in the afternoon,” he said.

“It should be three hours in any one stop for permit holders.”

The chamber said ‘no’ to 24 hour parking charges in Honiton and was not in favour of the introduction of payment by debit card.

It also agreed not to support different hourly rates for each town.