Save our town centre from on-street parking charges! 

Devon County Council is proposing to implement on-street parking charges in the centre of Tavistock.

This possibility is the single biggest threat to the businesses of our town since the advent of out-of-town shopping, further encouraging shoppers away from the high street to supermarkets and centres which have their own free parking. It will also force people more towards online shopping.

Tavistock BID, together with the Town Council, West Devon Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce, objects to the proposals to introduce on-street parking charges in the town on a number of grounds. Read more here: www.tavistockbid.co.uk/stop-the-meters-campaign

DCC has not provided any evidence to justify their proposals, nor has it conducted an impact study to show why the current system needs to change or how the imposition of charges would affect our community. DCC has also refused to explain or justify these proposals to the wider community in an open public meeting.

DCC is initially offering 1-hour free / 1-hour paid.

• We believe this will affect the current churn and availability of parking, enabling people to park for 2-hours on the high street. 
• With the pay & display machines in place, there will be no going back. Once established, DCC can change the terms of their use - increasing charges and changing any free stay period.
• You will need a ticket regardless of how long you intend to stay - it will not be as easy to use (and support) your town centre.
• Any scheme such as this will disenfranchise so many of those who visit the high street.
• The ease with which you use the high street will change, forcing many to out-of-town stores where parking is free. 

Maintaining the status quo is essential in order to support the ongoing vitality of the town centre. Easy, free, on-street parking is one of the reasons local people still use their high street. 

Implementation of charges for on-street parking will jeopardise the survival of many town centre businesses, who are facing very difficult trading conditions in the current economic climate. It will also be detrimental to those the town serves, making Tavistock a less-attractive proposition for their daily needs. Reports have shown that availability and convenience of parking is by far and away the most important factor when choosing where to shop and visit. 

Devon County Council says the move would:
• Encourage free movement of traffic and turnover of on street parking to benefit businesses
• Enable enforcement to be undertaken efficiently
• Encourage longer term visitors to use off street car parks
• Encourage those working in the town make more sustainable travel choices eg CarShare, Public Transport, Walking and Cycling

Tavistock BID strongly believes that the current status quo of free on-street parking in the centre of town already does all of that. 

Please sign and share this petition to keep on-street parking free and protect Tavistock town centre.