Devon leaders back permit changes

Parking prices may increase

Devon’s opposition leaders say they are broadly in favour of changes to the county council’s parking permit scheme.

Under new plans to be voted on next week, which exclude unitary authorities Plymouth and Torbay, the price of permits will increase to £35 for a property’s first vehicle – a rise of £5.

Second permits will then be higher depending on the vehicles’ carbon emissions, while extra permits on top of that will cost £65.

All residential permits currently cost £30, which the council says hasn’t increased since 2015. The price for a business permit for one vehicle is also going up to £35.

Permits will also be required for motorcycles (first permit £35, the second permit £45, extra permits £65), while other changes include refunds for part-used virtual permits and the introduction of virtual visitor permits which will be available in hourly blocks.

Once the new scheme has been adopted, all future permits will be issued virtually, which the Conservative-run council says will benefit the environment and see a reduction in waste.

It claims the new pricing structure will “positively affect a reduction in consumption of fossil fuels in private vehicles by encouraging the uptake of fuel-efficient/low emission vehicles and discouraging multiple car ownership.”

Reacting to the plan, the leader of the opposition Lib Dem group, Councillor Julian Brazil (Kingsbridge) said: “No one wants to see fees increase, especially during these difficult times. However, the county finds itself in dire financial straits [and] increasing parking permits is one way to increase revenue.

“We could perhaps do more to support lower emission vehicles and we should definitely be expanding the ‘car share’ scheme. Overall, I support these increases.”

Labour group leader, Councillor Carol Whitton (St David’s and Haven Banks) said: “In the face of the serious challenges presented by climate change, it is right and proper for the council to make these changes which encourage more people to choose lower polluting vehicles.

“For most residents, the small increase in the basic permit cost from £30 to £35, the first increase since 2015, will be more than offset by the new system for visitor permits which allows them to be used in one-hour blocks which can be tailored exactly to how long a visitor is staying.

“This will work out cheaper for most people than the current system whereby a whole 24-hour permit has to be used even for short visits.

“Residents who move around a lot, as many of my residents in the centre of Exeter do, will also benefit from now being able to obtain a refund on any unused parts of a permit when they move home.

“Inevitably, when changes like these are introduced, there will be some winners and some losers. But all in all, I think the new charging structure is fair and supports the council’s aspirations to take climate change seriously.”

Devon’s ruling cabinet will consider and vote on the changes at a meeting on today [Monday 26 September].