Parking charge hikes of up to 50% in North Devon town challenged by councillors

A decision that would see Devon County Council parking charges rise by 50% in parts of Ilfracombe has been challenged by six councillors.

The six Liberal Democrats have called in the decision made by their own ruling group on the council, saying such a big hike was ‘counterproductive’ to trying to boost the local economy.

The group include North Devon councillors Caroline Leaver, Syed Jusef and Ed Tyldesley, as well as Rosie Dawson, Alan Connett and David Cox.

Devon County Council is responsible for on-street parking, not district council car parks. The charges were last reviewed in 2022 and a raft of increases across the county were signed off by Councillor Dan Thomas, the cabinet member for highways, last month.

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For Ilfracombe in particular, it would see a 50% rise on parking costs in Portland Street, St James Place and Wilder Road during the October 1 to April 30 off season, with two hours increasing from £1 to £1.50 and four hours from £2 to £3. In summer, a maximum two hour stay would also increase from £2 to £3, with an hour going up 10% to £1.10.

Elsewhere in North Devon and Torridge the increases are less steep – Barnstaple’s Boutport street would rise by 20p for one hour and 40p for two hours.

In Bideford, Bridgeland Street and the Quay would rise by 10p to 60p for half hour and an extra 20p for an hour. The Strand and New Road would have the same increase, with 1.5 and two hours rising by another 60p.

Combe Martin on-street parking will see a 20p increase, while Woolacombe Esplanade would see modest increases of another 10p for half an hour up to an extra 60p for four hours.

The council says the reasoning for the rises are to make sure tariffs for stays of more than an hour are ‘at least equal or higher than equivalent off-street tariffs to encourage parking in longer stay car parks, reducing the recirculation of traffic, minimising traffic congestion and improving air quality’.

The group objecting to the higher increases have had their call in request granted and it will be looked at by the corporate, infrastructure and regulatory services scrutiny committee on Wednesday, October 22.

Giving their reasons for challenging the decision, the group said: “At a time when traders are struggling and businesses are closing, increasing the cost of visiting areas to contribute to the local economy seems counterproductive. 

“Increases may be necessary, but it is felt these can be fairer, more considerate of local needs and not as substantial in one hit.”