Torridge gets free parking

Two hours free to help traders

Motorists are set to be given free parking in Bideford, Holsworthy and Torrington town centres to revive the local economy.

Torridge councillors on Monday night backed a motion from Cllr Dermot McGeough to introduce free parking for two hours a day in order to further help traders during the coronavirus crisis - subject to full council approval, in October and November.

The decision could see the council lose an estimated £73,000 in car parking income, but Cllr McGeough said that they were not losing £72,000, but investing it back into the local economy which would make it back ‘tenfold’.

He said: “Two hours free parking will give the public and business owners enough time with the COVID-19 restrictions. The £73,000, we are not losing it but investing it back into the local economy and will make it back tenfold. It is key and paramount for the town centres to survive and come back, and we want footfall back in the town centre and for people to spend money again".

Mid Devon District Council introduced a similar program at the start of August which will run till the end of September in selected car parks in Crediton, Cullompton and Tiverton, and Torridge’s leader Cllr Ken James said that having spoken to Mid Devon’s leader about it, their leader’s advice was don’t do it, it’s more hassle than it’s worth’.

But Cllr James added: “I am not convinced it will increase footfall and we have no proof it will improve things, but if we can do it without going completely mad, I am happy to trial something and we need to find a way to help the shops that we can afford.”

The Community and Resources Committee voted by eight votes to three to back Cllr McGeough’s motion to introduce the scheme throughout car parks in the area.

When the measures are in place, motorists will still be required to buy a ticket from the machine, but make sure to select the ‘free parking’ option.