SOUTH Hams District Council’s executive committee have given the green light to sweeping away parking charges at Dartmouth’s Park and Ride during the closed season.

This follows the successful introduction of a new timetable at Easter which is saving the taxpayer £40,000 a year.

The Dartmouth community wished to build on the success of the new Park and Ride scheme and proposed to introduce free parking from November to mid-March.

Members at South Hams District Council’s executive committee agreed to waive the charges while the Park and Ride service is closed for the winter. With final approval needed by the full council, the decision is a step forward for the Dartmouth Park and Ride parking scheme.

Discussing the merits of free parking, Members agreed that this would encourage visitors to come to Dartmouth during the low season and would increase footfall for local businesses.

Cllr Gilbert, Executive Portfolio Holder for Commercial Services, said: ‘I would like to thank officers for their work with the community on this project over the last few years.

‘The introduction of the new sustainable Park and Ride service means we can now progress with initiatives like free parking, which help local businesses and support the local community.’

Members agreed that the loss of the £200 income generated from the parking charges could be dropped and free parking made available following the successful introduction of a new timetable for the Park and Ride, which is saving £40,000 a year.

The Dartmouth Community rallied together to save the Park and Ride last year. In a bid to save this front line service, South Hams District Council, in partnership with the Dartmouth BID, Dartmouth Town Council and Dartmouth Business Forum worked together to introduce a new cost saving timetable, which met the needs of the community.

The new timetable runs with a reduced service during school terms and a more frequent timetable during school holidays. The savings from this new scheme could result in free parking being introduced next November, when the Park and Ride service closes for winter.