UNTIL now motorists parking in the Mid Devon District Council run car park at St Saviours Way in Crediton, who wished to park during the day and stay beyond 6pm have had to return to their car to purchase a second ticket before the daytime ticket ran out at 17.59.

Mid Devon District and Town Councillor Bob Wright and Crediton Mayor and Mid Devon District Councillor, Cllr Frank Letch, have now discovered that motorists parking anytime between 8am and 6pm and not returning to their car until after 6pm can buy a ticket for £3.

There is nothing on Mid Devon District Council’s tariff board in the car park that explains this and motorists may not be aware that this is possible, so it is hoped that a

sign put up by the two councillors will help clarify these parking charges.

Cllr Letch feels the charges are very unfair and has asked the MDDC’s Environment Policy Development Group to re-establish the Car Park Working Group so that it can review the charges, so that a long stay car park means just that - £2 should be for 10 hours regardless of the start time of the ticket.

People parking in the car park are advised to check their tickets carefully for the expiry time.

Cllr Wright said: "It is very confusing for local people and even more confusing for visitors to the town."

According to figures obtained by the "Courier" the number of tickets bought in the car park from April 1, 2015 to February 1, 2016 was 48,036.

From April 1, 2016 when the new charges were introduced to February 1, 2017 the number of tickets was 37,666.

Since the new charges were introduced 10,350 less cars have used the car park in the 10 months from April 1, 2016 to February 1, 2017.