NEWLY-installed loading bay surfaces in Crediton High Street, which make them notably distinguishable, are not only assisting motorists by indicating where they can park – they are also saving them from parking fines!

It was lobbying by Crediton Town Council and local MP Mel Stride which won a major concession from the Government for Crediton motorists.

The dual-use loading bays on Crediton High Street were not easily identifiable and hundreds of motorists from the area were prosecuted for parking in the bays, mostly unaware that they should not.

Crediton Town Council, following several complaints, took up the issue on behalf of those who had been prosecuted and shopkeepers who felt that shoppers were being persecuted.

The council lobbied Central Devon MP, Mel Stride, who arranged for a meeting for a council representative and himself to meet with the Minister for Transport.

Mel and Cllr Liz Brookes-Hocking met with the Minister and officers from the Department for Transport to discuss the issue in January.

Following the meeting, Mr Stride told the Courier: “At the meeting with the Minister for Transport we came up with a solution to the loading bay issue.

“The Minister conceded that the loading bays can be painted a different colour on the road surface and that further signage could be installed to make it clearer, if required.

“This is quite a result and proves that lobbying can achieve success, as the Town Council and I have done in this case.

“We worked hard to get the meeting, approached the minister and officers to try to get a solution to this problem, one which has been an issue in Crediton for far too long.”

The Department for Transport wrote to Mel confirming the details, which were then passed to the Local Authority, Devon County Council (DCC), to inform them of the change.

Devon County Council and Crediton Town Council negotiated and it was agreed that a red surface could be installed, however DCC said that it could not afford to pay for the surface to be installed.

Crediton Town Council agreed to pay for the works and the installation of the new surfaces in the loading bays took place on Friday, October 2.

Since that time, motorists have certainly noticed the new road surface and have not been parking in the bays.

It has been noted that many motorists are being over-cautious as, in most cases, the loading bay restriction is not applicable between 2pm and 6pm.