Car parking fees to go up in North Devon

Big rise for South Molton rejected

Car parking fees are to rise in North Devon to bring in an extra £350,000 income for the district council.

But a move to increase charges at the Sheep Pen in South Molton where the all day rate was proposed to go up by £11.50 have been rejected.

North Devon Council’s strategy and resources committee supported a 10p increase to £1.40 for an hour-long stay in its town centre car parks and £1.60 in coastal car parks.

This is still 10p cheaper than car parks in neighbouring Torridge, the committee was told.

Long-stay car park fees are also set to rise from 60p to 70p an hour, with the all-day charge rising from £2.50 to £3.50.

Other changes include scrapping the 50p per hour charge after 2pm in Barnstaple’s Green Lanes shopping centre.

Motorists will now pay £1.40 per hour here in line with other town centre car parks in the district.

And annual permits in long-stay car parks will increase from £225 to £300, except for the new Seven Brethren car park in Barnstaple, which will be £225 to incentivise use.

A special exception will be made for the Sheep Pen car park at South Molton which despite being close to shops and expected to incur the short-stay fees of £1.40 per hour and £14.00 for 10 hours it will be 70p per hour and £3.50 per day.

Cllr David Worden (Lib Dem, South Molton) said he is not against the general principle of making sure everyone is treated fairly across North Devon, but South Molton is unique.

“If we adopt what is proposed here we will have an empty car park, no one will use it,” he said. “The increase is tremendous.”

There is at least one other privately owned car park where people could park cheaper, which would take away income from the district council, he said.

He added that South Molton Town Council is so upset by the proposal it it held a special meeting to discuss this and sent a resolution asking North Devon to retain it on long-stay fees.

“These proposals have upset a whole load of people and just do not make sense. Some people will be very happy getting money from their private car parks but we will be losing out.”

Councillors decided to look at the Sheep Pen car park fees again next year, after considering whether its underused lorry park in the town could provide extra parking in future.

Deputy chief executive and director of resources Jon Triggs said there is a possibility that half of the Sheep Pen could be long-stay and half short-stay.

He said the council faces budget pressures and although the use of the car parks could be volatile, the expectation is that the rises would bring in an extra £350,000 a year. The largest amount would come from permits.

Cllr Ricky Knight (Green, Heanton Punchardon) asked if there were any plans to take away cash machines in car parks. In 2019, 87 per cent of people paid with cash compared to 28 per cent in 2023. More than 50 per cent now use an app.

He was told that there were no plans, although multiple cash payment machines in some car parks may be reduced as they come to their end of their life.

Cllr Graham Bell (Lib Dem, Braunton East) said it is important to look at the demographic of areas as those who paid cash might have mobility problems and so would need easily accessible cash machines or they may have reduced incomes.

He said apps like Ringo are good but not perfect when there are connection or technology issues.

The new charges are expected to take effect from Tuesday 1 April.