'Excessive' fees for charity events in Torridge could be waived

What are described as 'excessive' car parking fees for charity events on Bideford Quay are expected to be waived, after claims that Torridge District Council is making money out of people doing good work for the community.

Councillor Wendy Lo-Vel (Green, Northam) said it was wrong that it charged charities the full hourly rate for the day for the whole car park.

She said it had been council policy for some years to charge all events that ask for exclusive use of the car park a fee equivalent to what the council ‘might’ earn from it that day.

“Just because it has been done for years is not a good enough reason to continue to do so,” she told the full council meeting.

“I firmly believe that the financial gains of such events to the town are considerable and are of more benefit to the council than the average local on the day parking receipts would be if they were not to take place.

“These events need to be recognised and supported as they often raise money for services which Torridge has cut back funding for.

“They bring positive benefits to traders and the council by increasing the number of visitors to the town, most of whom will use and pay for alternative parking.”

Cllr James Craigie (Ind, Bideford East) said the policy is the same across Torridge: “It is utterly gross that the district council is attempting to profit out of charity events by charging for the entire parking spaces other than the number of spaces they would normally get.

“These people are giving their time for the good of the community, we should not be profiting out of that.”
Cllr Doug Smith (Lib Dem, Great Torrington) said organisers of a fair that set up in the car park in Great Torrington was 'very upset' about the rate.

“The fair does a lot for the community, we would hate to lose them,” he said.

Councillors asked if a change in policy could apply to all Torridge car parks but were told that Cllr Lo-Vel’s motion only referred to Bideford Quay.

The motion was supported by full council but will be referred to the budget committee.