West Devon Borough Council agrees increase to long stay parking fees

The maximum stay in the Tavistock Abbey car park will increase from four hours to six hours

A Devon council has agreed changes to its pay and display car parks following a consultation.

West Devon District Council's hub committee voted to return to pre-pandemic tariffs in its long stay car parks, meaning some prices will rise.

The council said short stay prices would be frozen to help those shopping in the towns for shorter periods.

It said it hoped the change would encourage more people to shop from local businesses.

Other changes include extending the maximum stay in the Tavistock Abbey car park from four hours to six hours after requests from the community.

The long stay car parks that will see price rises in Tavistock include Bedford, Brook Street and Riverside.

Prices will also rise in long stay car parks in Okehampton, Hatherleigh and Chagford.

The council said prices had remained unchanged since early 2021 but inflation was a challenge.

Councillor Adam Bridgewater, the council's lead member for community services, added: "Like everyone else we really are doing the best we can in a difficult financial climate to balance our limited resources."