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Thousands view online parking rant

Tuesday, 28 January 2020 14:55

By Ed Oldfield, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Christian Pitocco accuses the council of "killing off another part of the community"

A video rant about new parking charges at a Devon beach has attracted thousands of views on Facebook.

Musician Christian Pitocco turned to the social media site to voice his anger at the introduction of fees in Marine Drive at Preston Sands beach in Paignton.

His video shows him walking past empty parking bays at 10am on Saturday on the road which runs alongside the seafront.

Mr Pitocco tells viewers that the section would normally be full of cars as people used the previously free parking to visit the beach, open space with play areas, and local cafe.

The new on-street pay-and-display ticket machines have just gone live after a delay last year following a mass protest.

Mr Pitocco, 46, who lives in Preston, ironically congratulates the council for  “killing off another part of the community.”

He says in the video: “You guys at the council have no care for anyone of us local residents that live in Preston.”

He says in his opinion the council always intended to go ahead despite suspending the decision following a public outcry.

By Tuesday his video had had 42,000 views on Facebook.

RANT

Posted by Christian Pitocco on Saturday, January 25, 2020

Mr Pitocco told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It just makes me angry, because it feels that they don’t care at all about how people feel.”

Torbay Council says the charges bring Preston into line with Paignton seafront and will make parking fairer by increasing turnover and allowing more people to have access to the area.

Comments on Facebook described the introduction of the parking fees as “ridiculous” and “shocking”, and “another nail in the coffin for the area”.

Nick Watson commented on a post on the Preston Beach Facebook page: “So short-sighted. They’re cutting off a large portion of income from tourism and industry for quick cash wins from meters.”

Zoe Harrison said it was the end of a “valuable ‘free resource’” used by many people and groups to meet and socialise.

Local councillor Chris Lewis said he and other Conservatives had objected to the fees but the council “would not listen”.

More than 1,800 people signed a petition against 24-hour charges on the road which previously had free parking with a restriction to prevent overnight stays.

A campaign against the plan resulted in almost 1,300 letters of objection.

The plan was put on hold in January 2019 for a review, but decision was taken to go ahead after the council’s parking panel reconsidered the issue.

Objectors warned that parking charges would shift some cars onto nearby residential roads.

They said that outside the summer season the beach and open space was used by local families and dog walkers who would be put off by having to pay.

That would discourage healthy lifestyles and potentially increase social isolation among the elderly and disabled, as the beach and open space had good access.

The objectors also raised concerns that the charges would reduce trade for local businesses and add extra cost to beach hut owners at Preston, who have had to buy their huts and rent space from the council, plus pay for winter storage.

The council said the charges would make parking fairer by increasing turnover  and improving access to the area for all users, and be in line with Paignton seafront which had on-street pay-and-display parking. 

The decision to go ahead was made in October to “ensure a consistent approach for on street parking in Torbay in line with the Council’s approved Parking Strategy.”

A report to the council’s parking panel in September said: “At the current time the parking along this area is unrestricted during the day and vehicles may park for as long as required.

“There is a limited waiting time to stop overnight parking which historically was an issue.

“This should ensure all users of the area are given the opportunity to park either at this prime seafront location, in limited waiting areas in Preston by the local businesses, a nearby car park, in unrestricted or limited waiting at Marine Parade.

“At the present time a fair turnover of bays may not occur, especially in the summer months when the weather is good and demand is higher than the capacity available.

“Those who arrive first thing in the morning are able to park and as the area is unrestricted during the day, stay all day if they require, thus stopping a turnover of bays.”

A survey found the surrounding streets were mostly full of parked cars, so the loss of free parking on Marine Drive would have little impact.

The parking fees start at £1 for 30 minutes, then £1.50 for an hour, £2.50 for 90 minutes, £3 for two hours, £5 for four hours, £7.50 for six hours and £10 for 24 hours, with a £3.50 overnight charge from 6pm to 8am.

Parking remains free on the surrounding mostly residential roads, with some restrictions, and on Marine Parade, where the space is taken over by beach huts during the summer.

A Torbay Council spokesperson said: “Pay and display machines have been installed in Marine Drive, Preston, Paignton. 

 “We appreciate this is a change for the motorist and therefore the area will be monitored for compliance before enforcement starts.”

The council has been looking for ways to maximise income to fill the gap left by cuts in funding from central government as it faces rising costs for statutory services like children’s social care.

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