The final piece in the Newton Abbot's car park 'zoning' falls into place today when the 185- space Newfoundland Way car park becomes a 'pay on foot' facility. Drivers will pay on exit and the charge will be based on their length of stay. In a bid to discourage long-term parking, a stay lasting more than four hours will cost £10. Cllr Jim Grimble, Teignbridge council's executive spokesman for assets, performance and e-government, said the change would 'enable flexibility and provide a choice to stay longer in the town without incurring an excess charge'. Shoppers who spend £10 or more at the new Asda store will have the two hours' parking fee of £1.40 refunded. However, a magnetic loop device will not permit trolleys to be removed from the supermarket site. In line with the council's parking strategy, most town centre car parks will be limited to short stay. These include the Cattle Market, where the limit will be four hours once the new Asda store opens, and at Halcyon Road, where the limit will be two hours. All day parking, costing £3.60, will still be permitted in the multi-storey car park, although it is locked at 6.30pm, after which a £60 release fee is required. At the Wolborough Way car park, drivers face a minimum charge of £2.60 for four hours or £3.60 for all day. At Venture Court, the minimum charge is £3.60 for an all day stay. Chamber of Trade spokesman Jeremy Newcombe said shoppers were unclear about the new arrangements and that more spaces were needed. 'The chamber, and most people in the town, we believe, are thoroughly confused by the Asda concession and which car parks it applies to,' he said. 'We are also concerned about the number of car parking spaces at that end of town which are needed to support the economic health of the town, and that includes Asda.' Newton Abbot market traders have scored a victory after complaining that new traffic light arrangements in Bank Street were causing lengthy delays. The timings have now been altered and traders say the situation has improved.
