Car parking charges under scrutiny

Car parking charges are set to get closer scrutiny in North Devon.

The district council is setting up a working group to explore issues before the budget is set.

Car parking charges haven’t increased this year, after going up in 2023 for the first time in eight years.

Each of three political groups – the Liberal Democrats, Independents and Conservatives – will be represented.

Members of the council’s strategy and resources committee said rural and urban car parks need different approaches and have requested that the group addresses the layout of car parks, as well as provision of family and disabled bays.

The group will meet every month until the end of the year.

Across England, councils received nearly £2 billion from parking in 2022-23, and paid about half of this in running and enforcement costs.

According to figures from the previous government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, North Devon Council made a profit of £1.7 million on car parking fees, permits, fines and car park rent that year.

Local authorities say it is one of few ways that they can raise income, but parking increases are frequently controversial and not liked much by motorists.