'Free' parking scheme comes under spotlight

SOUTH Hams residents could finally be in line for a free parking bonanza — as long as they are prepared to pay for it.

South Hams Council is considering offering all its residents free parking rights in council-owned car parks.

But the chances are the car owners will have to shell out £20 each for the privilege to cover the administration costs of producing permits and the loss of council income, reckoned to run to over £200,000.

And the permits will probably only allow free parking before 10am each morning and after 4pm.
The first proposals for a free parking bonus for residents was put forward as long ago as October last year by Modbury district councillor Mark Lawrence.

They have been on hold ever since while district council officers have been investigating the impact of such a scheme.

A report due to go before tomorrow's Executive is inviting the top district councillors to consider the principle of introducing a 'concessionary car parking scheme for residents' for a 12-month trial period.

But the council officers also want councillors to accept that each resident will have to fork out at least £20 if they want the free parking privilege.

The executive is being asked to look at three options:

1. Concessionary parking before 10am and after 4pm;
2. Concessionary parking at any other two-hour periods during the day;
3. Concessionary parking after 6pm.

The report admits that option one would be the easiest to administer but would still need permits and is likely to cost the district council as much as £233,000.

If the council was to agree to combine options one and three, it would push the bill up to £277,000, the report added.

But if 50 per cent of the district's car owners took up the offer and handed over their £20 a year that would bring in a massive £417,000, easily covering the costs.

Originally Mr Lawrence had envisaged that the free parking would be just that — free — by covering the extra costs of the scheme by pushing up car parking charges so, in effect, the visitors would help pay for locals parking.

On top of that it would bring more local people into the main towns to do their shopping at times when the car parks are unlikely to be full rather than locals driving off to out of town superstores.
The report pointed out: "The scheme, if adopted, will require some rules attached so as to ensure that the system is not abused.

"It is suggested that only households paying 100 per cent or 75 per cent council tax would be allowed to participate. Proof of this would be required.

"The registration number of the vehicle would have to be displayed on the permit.
"An administration fee would be charged if the registration number had to be changed."