A pressure group is being formed in a bid to cut parking charges across the South Hams and encourage more visitors to the area.

But the South Hams Council has criticised the anonymous group and its 'faceless website'.

South Hams Motorists believes it is wrong that the council uses car parks to raise revenue for general purposes.

'Such charges have become a tax – and a tax that leans more heavily on the poorer members of our communities,' the group says.

Members had been encouraged by the introduction of a £2 parking fee in Torbay and hoped for something similar from South Hams, said spokesman Rodney Willett, of Balmoral Lane, South Brent.

Their first aim was a parking moratorium in December, he said, and he had been alarmed by people saying they wouldn't be coming back to the area because of the high parking charges.

The group claims high parking costs in town centres favour supermarkets over the areas smaller and often independent shops and free short-term parking ought to be available on our near the district's high streets.

It adds that additional wealth could be created, which would see an increase in business rates more than compensating for any loss in car parking revenue.

The group is calling for control of parking restrictions to be determined by town and parish councils as conditions are different in different areas.

There is also a call for parking charge notices to be 'honest and clear'. The group claims that at present they are misleading, which results in some motorists paying more than they need.

A South Hams Council spokesman said: 'This website is anonymous and this is the first occasion that we have learned of its existence.

'We would much rather speak to the people behind this so that we can have a proper informed discussion rather than liaise with a faceless website.'

Membership of South Hams Motorists is free and the group says if major decisions are required, everyone would have a vote.

Anyone wishing to find our more can email [email protected]">[email protected] or visit the website southhamsame.com.