'Absolutely no appetite' for nighttime parking charges in Exmouth says Conservative councillor

Exmouth Littleham Ward Councillor Bruce de Saram spoke at a meeting of East Devon District Council's Cabinet on Wednesday night in support of Conservative Leader councillor Andrew Moulding who had stated that the Conservatives would not support the proposed car parking charges increase brought to Cabinet in their current form.

Councillor de Saram said that his own investigations in Exmouth into parking charges supported by the Exmouth Chamber of Commerce research showed that there is absolutely no appetite from either businesses or the public for any evening parking charges to be imposed in car parks such as the Exmouth Pavilion Car park.

He went on to argue that this proposal far from being a solution represented an unwelcome quick fix for solving the current administrations financial problems as the proposals for evening parking were to be charged at "Initially a flat rate".

At the end of the lengthy debate which ensued councillor de Saram was pleased to find that his initial suggestion to scrap evening parking supported by many councillors from all parties had found favour with Finance Portfolio Holder councillor Ian Thomas who moved an amendment to Cabinet which if accepted would allow for night time charges to be removed as part of the Cabinet's response to the overall lack of support for these proposed changes to be made to the EDDC (Off-Street) Parking Places order 2008 from councillors of all parties.

In response to this proposal most Conservative members present felt that whilst this was not an ideal solution the removal of night charges was a step in the right direction.

Written by East Devon District Conservative Councillor for Littleham Bruce de Saram.