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Raising car parking charges is about raising revenue – not about reducing emissions

  • by JW

There has been swift reaction from the local press about plans to increase car park charges:

‘Absurd’ plans to hike up prices at Sidmouth car parks could ‘spell disaster’ for town centre | Sidmouth Herald

Bid to dramatically increase charges at popular Sidmouth car parks met with ‘dismay’ | Sidmouth Nub News

Fifty per cent price hike proposed at popular East Devon car parks – and free facilities could become pay-and-display East Devon News

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With comment on the Sidmouth Community Facebook pages:

Six Sidmouth car parks, one in Sidbury and another in Newton Poppleford are featured in the proposals…

22 September at 02:47

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Local councillors have rebuked the proposal, expressing concern for the survival of our High Street

14 hrs

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Reduced car parking helps shoppers:

Reduced winter car parking charges start 1st November >>>> do your Christmas shopping in your local East Devon towns

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But we need to reduce the amount of cars in our town centres:

What would Zero Carbon Exeter Look Like?

Relieving pressure on roads and car parks

Workplace parking levy for Exeter?

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Park and Ride would help:

Sidmouth Park-and-Ride not in the plans

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However, it is clear that the latest measures are not designed to reduce traffic volumes or carbon emissions – it’s all about raising revenue:

Futures Forum: District Council to rethink ‘whopping’ price rises at East Devon car parks

Futures Forum: Parking in East Devon: where and how much… continued

Futures Forum: Car parking charge rises are ‘unpopular and are to the detriment of our town centre economies’