District Council’s Parking Permits Review Closes on Friday

South Hams District Council is conducting a review of how its parking permits work, to see if changing the scheme could release more parking spaces for residents and visitors. The consultation runs for three weeks until Friday 11 September.Concerns have been raised that there are too many parking spaces in key car parks taken up by vehicles with parking permits. The Council have been told that this leaves no short-term parking for shoppers and visitors and the vibrancy of the towns suffers because of it.

The proposals are to amend parking permits and charges so that the costs of the current permits are increased to manage parking more effectively, and increase the availability of Pay and Display parking.  It is also proposed to remove leisure and bowling permits and to put the sale of Salcombe and Dartmouth permits on hold with the exception of renewals of existing permits.

To support the town centres and the economy, the Council needs to ensure there are enough available spaces for shoppers and visitors to continue to easily park when visiting South Hams’ towns and villages without causing frustration for motorists who cannot find an available parking space.

Cllr Keith Baldry, Executive Member for Environment at South Hams District Council, said: “We have decided to conduct a thorough review of our permits across the District so we can hear what residents and visitors want.  We want to have a fair and consistent approach to our permit parking but we need to know what you, our residents and visitors, think about it first.

“We know there are particular parking issues in Dartmouth and Salcombe so we’re suggesting that we reduce the number of permits there in the future to increase available visitor spaces.”

The 21 day consultation runs from Friday 21 August until Friday 11 September 2020.

You can find further information about how to have your say at: www.engagement.southhams.gov.uk/parking

ENDS