South Hams District Council is proposing changes to its Pay and Display car park charges and would like to hear what you think.

Following the full council decision to increase pay and display parking charges by two per cent earlier in the year, officers have now conducted a review of parking charges throughout the South Hams, with proposals now being put forward.

Officers engaged with town and parish councils to carry out a review in line with each community’s needs. This included exploring where parking could be managed better, how charges could be adjusted, and how to encourage more use of car parks and park and ride services.

Now, the council would like to hear what local communities think of the proposed changes. The proposals include, in some areas, reducing the number of coins needed to pay, for example by rounding charges up or down to the nearest pound or 50p.

Other proposals include introducing all day parking in some car parks and removing overnight tariffs.

In Bigbury, 24-hour parking charges will be introduced to eliminate the current overnight tariff.

In Dartmouth, proposals would see a price increase to encourage use of the park and ride during peak season.

Ivybridge will continue to see the £2 all-day tariff at Leonard’s Road, and the council hopes to improve use of Glanville’s Mill car park by allowing cars to park for up to two hours.

Kingsbridge would see the Quay car park charges increased, while charges to Lower Union Road, Cattlemarket and Fore Street would be lowered to encourage more use.

Modbury would see a reduced fee for a half hour stay in Poundwell Meadow.

And Salcombe would see increases focussed on high season charges and short stay parking.

While Slapton Line and Torcross car parks will see increased charges for overnight parking, from £2 to £3.

And to encourage visitors to stay longer, car parks in Totnes would see an increase to short stay tariffs only.

Cllr Rufus Gilbert, portfolio holder for commercial services, said: “What works for one community may not work for another, so this is why we follow a policy of community led parking charges. Through working with town and parish councils, we are able to review parking charges in each community and make appropriate changes which benefit and support individual communities.

“Now is your chance to inform us if we have got this right. Please read through the proposals and visit our consultation page on the website to share your views.”

Council consultations can be found at www.southhams.gov.uk/consultations.