Parking charge plan 'terrible'

I think is it absolutely terrible that you won't be able to visit the doctor or go for an appointment at the hospital without paying for parking in the future. And what, may I ask, is the 'greener option' they want us to use? Are they proposing the elderly and sick get out their bikes and cycle to the hospital, or the disabled wheel themselves there in their wheelchairs? How about a park and ride scheme? Have we got one of those like Exeter? Or will we all be expected to book a taxi to take us to the hospital or doctor's and pick us up again, just because members of staff and the voluntary people will be getting parking free and will be taking up all the spaces? May I suggest to East Devon District Council and health authority that they buy the business park at Ottery Moor Lane and put a park and ride car park there. Now that Tesco has been turned down for their building plan on the land, they will no longer need it. It only costs �1 return in Exeter for the park and ride (pensioners with a bus pass get it free) and I would think this would be more acceptable than whatever extortionate charge they can dream up for the hospital parking. Or could they not adopt the policy of the diabetes clinic in Exeter, where parking is free? You have to go to reception and show your valid appointment and you are then given a parking permit for your car, date stamped for that day. This to me seems a better idea than charging patients to park, bearing in mind many are on a pension, out of work, or on a low wage here in the West country, and none of us have money trees growing in our gardens. All I can see is a few more nails going into Honiton's coffin, it's becoming a dead town where no one wants to come to shop and shortly no one will want to live here either. I wonder if it would be any better under a unitary council for Devon?Jane ShepardCourtenayHoniton