PARKING charges in Holsworthy’s Manor Car Park, managed by the district council, are to increase — despite opposition from a number of councillors.

Car parks in Great Torrington and Bideford will also be effected by this decision.

It was resolved at the budget special meeting on January 25 by Torridge District Council’s community and resource committee that ‘car parking charges within the towns of Bideford, Holsworthy and Torrington...be increased (increase phased in over three years)’.

The council proposed that an increase parking charges by approximately 10p per hour would reduce a ‘gap’ on the revenue budget.

In a notice of motion to the full council on Monday, February 22, Cllr Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin (Lib Dem), Great Torrington, proposed ‘...that this council considers either freezing the parking charge for two hours at £1.20, or reducing it to £1 in our town centre car parks (Great Torrington/Holsworthy/Bideford) to encourage people to park for longer and spend more time in our town centres.’

Fellow Great Torrington ward councillor Chris Bright (Lib Dem) also submitted a written notice to the same effect.

Discussions were held but the motions did not pass.

Following the meeting, Holsworthy Ward district councillor Jon Hutchings (Cons) said now was not the time to be raising prices but made assurances that he would continue to fight this decision.

He told the Post: “I seconded the proposal to keep charges as they are for 20/21 as I felt that this is not the time to raise charges. I feel the one way we can support our towns businesses is to keep charges low and encourage customers. The motion would have gone to community and resources for debate. I had hoped this would include other parking charges like the annual pass which will see a huge hike in the next three years, this doesn’t help local people.

“Unfortunately other councillors didn’t feel this was a necessary and the motion wasn’t passed. However, I will keep battling over charges as  I have done for many years. The council relies on parking charges to balance its books so its never going to be an easy subject to discuss.”Fellow ward councillor for Holsworthy Cllr David Jones said he did not support the 'uniform rise' as he believes each town has it's own 'unique needs'.He said: "While I understand the need to deliver a balanced budget to ensure that the delivery of services by Torridge District Council can continue, I do not support the uniform raising of parking charges across Holsworthy, Bideford and Torrington. "These three towns are very different and have their own unique needs; they deserve to be looked at individually. "What may be suitable in Bideford might not be appropriate in Holsworthy and vice versa. "To my mind Holsworthy should have been provided with extra support to encourage people back into the town when the lockdown eased, rather than raising the car parking charges which may act as a deterrent to some."