TWO hours free parking in Crediton's major car park (St Saviours) should be possible. Not for the whole car park, but a part, using empty spaces. Just how such a service would be operated has yet to be decided.

At its December meeting, Crediton Town Council agreed to consider whether to add to its precept to make this happen when its finance committee meets early in January.

The council was considering how it could "support the vibrancy and economic development of the High Street and town centre."

It was felt more backing was needed from the town's Chamber of Commerce. Cllr Tom Connell said Chamber was reorganising itself and had a project similar to that put forward by Cllr Liz Brookes-Hocking who presented a report to the council, partly based on its Town Plan.

Over the previous fortnight, Cllr Connell had carried out a survey of St Saviours Way car park (called High Street car park by Mid Devon District Council).

He found it was only ever 70 per cent full. He said the Chamber of Commerce now understood it needed to play a far bigger part in the life of the town.

"Putting Crediton back on the map is Number One on the agenda," he said. "Morrisons and Tesco will bring a huge number of people to the town and Crediton could be the best shopping centre in the South West - except for parking in the town."

Saying he would like to work closely with the town council, so that both bodies knew what the other was doing, Cllr Connell added that there were ideas for creating parking space. He was sure the Chamber would fully support the town council.

Cllr Brookes-Hocking had been talking to other people with ideas and said it was not just the parking problems, but there was the Crediton in Bloom project, putting hanging baskets and tubs of flowers through the town and advertising banners on the newer lamp posts.

Cllr David Nation reported that, because of noise problems, Crediton Farmers' Market was no longer putting a banner across the High Street and hoped, instead, to hang advertising banners from the lamp posts.

Returning to the main issue of car parking, Cllr Brookes-Hocking thought that two hours free parking on St Saviours Way car park would be "brilliant for shoppers".

As the town council had added to its precept to help pay for the town swimming pool at Lords Meadow, among other things, she wondered if this could be done again to support the free car parking?

Cllr Nick Way, also a district and county councillor, reported that at its March meeting, the county Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) would be looking at an improvement project for Mid Devon.

The town council agreed to ask that this included improving the pedestrian access from the High Street (via a passage way opposite Searle Street) around the big gates into St Saviours Way car park.

Cllr Anne Hughes wondered whether the Town Bus could stop at the car park? But it was felt this would mean rescheduling the bus times and was too complicated for such a short ride.

It was felt that, as St Saviours car park was never full, the district council would not be losing car park revenue because it was not getting any from the empty spaces.

Cllr Brookes-Hocking suggested the area nearest the pedestrian access could be set aside for two hours free shoppers' parking. She said there were other simple ideas that could improve use of the car park.

Cllr Bob Wright, also a district councillor, understood that the new ticket machines would be able to cope with different charging rates. He wondered about a nominal charge of 10p for two hours.

Cllr Connell replied that a number of towns give free parking for a certain time. It was agreed to ask the district council what it might cost if a part of the car park was set aside for two hours free parking?

Some time ago, looking at the same problem, a sign on the main road showing how many spaces were available in the car park had been suggested, but got no further because it cost too much.

Cllr John Downes commented that all that would be needed would be a big sign announcing 'free parking', a much cheaper alternative.

Cllr David Nation, also a district councillor, reported that as part of its work to regenerate town centres, the district council would be surveying traders to see what help it could give. He understood this would begin in Cullompton and then Crediton.

Tesco bus goes

further than

High Street

There had been complaints that the Tesco bus (Dartline 341 Circular) only went between the High Street and the store but the timetable showed its full route covering much more of the town including Beech Park, Jockey Hill, Alexandra Road, Parliament Street and Belle Parade.

It was also felt that the county council had shown "bad PR" by its sentence at the bottom of that timetable saying that the service was "financially supported by Devon County Council".

In fact, Tesco had given a sum of money to the county council to pay for the service for five years. So the county council was using the Tesco fund to pay for the service and the Dartline 342 which served Barnfield area.

The town council is asking the county council about several points in connection with this service. Cllr Walter Brown said the town council had suggested that drivers who parked at Tesco paid less for a bus trip into the town and back.

Other queries were whether the service could be extended on Saturdays and whether Queen Elizabeth Drive could be included more than just twice in the week (8.30am and 3.30pm) and once (3.30pm, request only) on Saturdays.

There were problems with the current Town Bus reversing at Newcombes. In time, this bus is to be replaced with one the size of the Dartline 341 and 342 services bus, which would be even more difficult to reverse there. All these queries were to be raised with the county council.

Companion bus pass

The council is to ask the district council to reinstate the companion bus pass, issued to carers or companions of people with disabilities.

This autumn the Local Government Ombudsman criticised the district council for stopping these passes. Before April 2008, local schemes were working, but when the government introduced a new national scheme, giving free bus travel to disabled people and those above the age of 60, local authorities were told they had to meet the cost of the extra benefit, such as free travel for carers.

Mid Devon was one of the few councils who opted to offer only the statutory minimum. The Ombudsman recommended the council reconsidered whether it should give extra concessions and compensate the claimant.

Mrs Wendy Nicholls, whose daughter Rebecca has Down's Syndrome, told the council she and others had been trying since April 2008 to get the free pass reinstated and about the difficulties when a carer or support worker needed to travel with a person with disabilities.

Cllr Way explained that until April 2008 a companion bus pass had been available in Mid Devon. "Bear in mind," he said, "that a person with special needs had, in reality, two passes, one for themselves and one for their carer, who could be a member of their family or a professional carer.

"When the Devonwide pass scheme stopped, only 104 people had applied in Mid Devon for the pass. Although this is not a huge number, there are people who have been quite badly affected. Our own district council had not discontinued this, it did not begin it again when it was stopped.

"Councils such as Teignbridge and Exeter have their own system. Mid Devon could do so, too. This was talked about at the district council meeting on December 16. The policy group will be looking at the situation on January 26 and its recommendation should go to the executive, probably on February 4."

He said the council would have to decide whether to reinstate the pass and whether to include the return journey. Mainly for bureaucratic reasons, some councils only pay one way.

It was agreed the town council asks the district council to reinstate the companion bus pass, with return passes.

Planning

There was no objection to an application with a revised scheme for Listed Building consent to convert an addition at the rear of 19/21 High Street to form on dwelling.

Approval was recommended to the district council for the following planning applications: an extension at 34 Beech Park.

Building 22 dwellings on land to the south of Exeter Road, Wellparks, with parking (it was hoped this would not affect car parking for the Station Tea Rooms); a double garage and an extension and retaining wall at St Swithins, Old Tiverton Road. Listed Building consent for internal and external alterations at 6 Park Street.