A PARKING scheme which allows shoppers to park for five hours at a charge of just £1 in a Crediton car park has been hailed as a resounding success – and could soon be rolled out for use at all of Mid Devon District Council's long stay car parks.

In a bid to encourage trade in Crediton and for the benefit of not just shoppers but staff who work in the town, two local District councillors, Bob Wright and Derek Coren, persuaded Mid Devon District Council to allow parking for up to five hours for £1 in the town's St Saviour's Way Car Park.

There was much criticism from fellow councillors and scepticism from some council officers, who said the District Council would lose money because of the scheme.

However, the persuasive powers of the two councillors was enough to persuade Mid Devon District Council and the trial scheme began last year.

The doubters are now eating their words after hearing that the scheme has been such a success and Mid Devon District Council is now considering expanding the scheme to the long stay at Cullompton.

Cllr Wright said: "The figures for the first five months of this financial year show that in St Saviour's Way Car Park that an extra 4,100 tickets were issued, meaning that potentially 200 extra people per week came to shop in the town based on these figures compared with the same period last year.

"In the same period the extra income generated was £4,069 from parking revenue for MDDC and also the scheme has, no doubt, generated extra income for traders.

A working group from Mid Devon District Council are now looking at parking across the district."

Mr Wright added: "Derek Coren and myself are really pleased that Mid Devon is holding up what we have done as a model for other places.

"Everybody at Mid Devon wanted to put the parking prices up but this shows the opposite.

"It has resulted in helping Mid Devon's finances and the local traders which can only be a good thing.

"Giving people that extra time on their parking means they can enjoy their shopping experience more, perhaps enjoy coffee or something to eat in Crediton and spend a longer time in the town.

"Another bonus is that people using the St Saviour's Car Park more has seen some reduction in vehicles parking in side streets, such as Greenway, outside people's houses.

"The working group is now looking at season parking ticket prices and, perhaps issuing monthly tickets which could be paid for by Direct Debit". "

Cllr Wright will be pressing for free parking on both afternoons for Crediton's Late Night Shopping evenings on November 28 and December 12 and also Saturdays before Christmas and on Christmas Eve.