Stop the Parking Meters!
When I stood for election to Honiton Town Council (HTC), I promised to oppose Devon County Council’s plan to introduce a pay and display parking meters on Honiton High Street.
I made good on that promise and, as deputy chair of HTC’s Working Group, I worked with the Honiton Chamber of Commerce to develop a survey for local residents and businesses to give their opinions on the proposals, using HTC’s new money-saving Canva account.
I also designed some snazzy posters promoting the survey which were displayed by local shopkeepers.
As expected, with over 1,000 responses to the survey, public opinion was overwhelmingly opposed to the idea of charging for parking on the High Street.
What did Devon County Council propose?
After apparently mulling several options, Devon County Council finally proposed to install pay and display parking meters in Honiton and several other Devon towns which would allow one hour of free parking and a second hour of paid parking. However, even if you were to stay for less than an hour, you still needed to get a ticket.
What if you were stuck in a queue in the Post Office and your free hour ran out? Devon County Council would show no mercy – you had to predict the length of the Post Office queue and decide in advance whether you needed to pay for that second hour. Clearly a scheme thought out by people with no appreciation of the practicalities of a quick stop on the high street, which can often end up being not quite as quick as expected!
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Honiton’s Opposition to Parking Meters
Local businesses and residents in Honiton argued that parking charges would deter short-term shoppers and negatively impact the High Street. There was particular concern for elderly visitors and those making quick stops, with fears that even a free initial hour (which still required a ticket) would discourage visits and reduce footfall for independent retailers.
On this subject, Honiton Town Council was clear and unanimous in its opposition to the proposed pay-and-display parking meters. The council formally stated it could not support the scheme, citing concerns that it would harm the town’s economy and accessibility for residents and visitors.
In March 2024, after sustained and vocal opposition from Town Councils, residents, and businesses in all the affected towns in Devon, Devon County Council withdrew the pay-and-display parking meter proposals.
DCC acknowledged the strength of local feeling against their proposals. You would think it had come as a surprise to them but several town councillors, me included, had been telling them for months that this scheme would not work for residents or businesses. DCC just didn’t listen.
Independent Thinking
I talked to local businesses and other residents in Honiton to get their views on the proposals for on street parking charges. It wasn’t difficult to work out the strength of feeling against this proposal.
As an Independent councillor, I would be able to represent Honiton’s interests without the constraints of having to toe a party line.