The move is expected to generate much-needed revenue for the council as it grapples with dwindling support from the government
The usually tranquil tourist havens of Salcombe and Dartmouth in Devon have been stirred by local council decisions that will see holidaymakers faced with higher parking charges.
South Hams District Council has ignited controversy with a two-tier parking system resulting from intense discussions, forcing visitors to dig deeper into their wallets for parking spaces.
While residents can breathe a sigh of relief with a £5 permit granting a reduced fee, concerns grow over the apparent disincentive for tourists brought on by the first parking fee hike since April 2021, reports Devon Live.
As the council looks to shore up its coffers amid reduced aid from the government, some fear a decline in spending within the district due to what Councillor Nicky Hopwood has slammed as a “tourism tax”.
Council chief Julian Brazil said: “They have a tourism tax on the Continent, but people still go there!”
With the majority ruling in favour and plans to reassess the effectiveness of the strategy down the line, Councillor John Birch warned against rejecting this financial lifeline, describing the current situation as an “all-out attack” on the council’s purse strings, according to reports from Devon Live.
Cllr Hopwood has raised the alarm over potential negative impacts on local businesses and insisted that South Hams locals should be able to sign up for their discounts without being hit by a £5 fee, slamming the idea as “nonsensical”.
Cllr Brazil said: “It’s a small increase, and we think it’s only fair that visitors who come here and use our services should pay in some way towards those services.”
