Colin Jenkins, of Kingsteignton, writes: In the Letters to the Editor page in your issue dated May 12, there was a letter Car Park fees will Drive us out of Town. On April 21, you had an article Review Parking Cost call about a former chairman of Teignbridge council, Cllr Anne Fry, who made a plea that the town centre parking fees are reviewed in a bid to help independent businesses. The question is not only the high cost of the car park charges but also the previous high level of the annual increases, both of which were first raised by the writer with Teignbridge Council in March 2004 and has been virtually ongoing since that date. The council's answer to excessive above inflation increases – ie 16.67 per cent for the one-hour period in 2004 compared to an inflation figure of 2.50 per cent – was simply that the council increases of parking fees were never linked to inflation but considered as 'total revenue generation', which the writer interpreted as parking fees being treated as being a 'cash cow' for the council. This was confirmed in a letter from the council dated July 2004: 'charging in car parks is a very significant and important revenue generator and will continue to remain in place for the foreseeable future'. The question now is has the foreseeable future arrived and, if so, will the council's approach to a major change in car parking fees occur for the better or are we to see more empty shop units, some of which may be taking over by charity shops? In your newspaper May 21, 2004, you had an article in which Austin's store director Trevor Boobyer was quoted as saying: 'The main problem of the town is car parking. It is insufficient for the independent trader and the problem is that car parking is free at out of town in shopping centres but, in comparison, expensive in town even if you can find a space. This does not fare well for Newton Abbot as a retail centre,' This statement was not only apparent at that time but is even more applicable now. It would appear that this situation was even then not accepted by Teignbridge Council as being pertinent but perhaps now, two years later, they may perhaps have altered their views on public car parking. if so, will they reveal any such major changes that will be of benefit all to the populace in respect of parking for shopping? Surely car park income is not to be considered as more important than a prosperous and economic viable shopping centre, so there must be a compromise. Incidentally, if Teignbridge Council considers car park charges as being an 'important revenue generator' could they not be considered as being dilatory in not applying car-parking charges at their Forde House office car park, which evidently has been an issue that has been continuously reviewed by the council but not instigated to date.
