Exclusive by Nora Parminter

IT HAS been brought to the attention of the Courier that an undemocratic decision has been made by a Councillor from Willand, which will affect a large number of people in the Crediton area.

The decision involves a variation to parking at the Mid Devon District Council (MDDC) High Street car park (at St Saviours Way), Crediton.

It states that "No driver shall allow a vehicle at the High Street Parking Place in Crediton to return within two hours after the expiry of a ticket for five hours parking."

This will mean that anyone who wishes to park in the car park for the day will have to pay £3.50.

At a time of financial hardship for many people living and working in the Crediton area, it is feared this will be an unaffordable cost and many will need to park elsewhere, possibly in the residential areas of the town.

Mid Devon District Cllr Bob Wright, (Lawrence, Crediton) explained: "This was an individual decision by Cabinet Member for Street Scene, Cllr Ray Radford, which Crediton ward members were not consulted about and which will come into force on April 1, 2013.

"This decision will affect a lot of people, particularly those who work in the town.

"Every day I get complaints about parking in residential areas of the town.

"The variation is a wrong decision and will only make matters worse."

He added: "It is not as if the car park is over-flowing!"

One document that the Courier has seen states that the variation is a proposal and that objections can be made up to March 4, 2013, yet another document states that the decision was made on February 12, 2013.

It has also been brought to the attention of the Courier that the cost of parking is to rise from £1 to £1.10 for five hours and from £3.50 to £3.60 for 24 hours, meaning that all day parking for someone working in Crediton five days a week will cost £18 per week and a whopping £72 per month!

The cost of an annual ticket will rise from £308 to £338.80.

The cost of parking in MDDC's Market Street will also rise from £1 to £1.10 for one hour, from £1.70 to £1.80 for two hours and from £2 to £2.10 for three hours.

Cllr Wright will be trying to put forward a case against the price rises to MDDC, but does not think he will have much luck.

Greenway resident, Eric Halsey said: "People parking along Greenway instead of in the St Saviour's Way car park, because of the parking costs, are causing residents problems.