Petition calls for free parking at beauty spot

Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for three hours of free parking at a coastal beauty spot.

Plymouth City Council wants to introduce a £2 charge at Jennycliff, along with other coastal car parks, for stays of more than one hour. The car parks are currently free to use all day.

The authority previously said it wanted to bring charges in line with other comparable cities across the country to "maintain the income needed to continue delivering key parking services".

Yvonne Tang, who runs Jennycliff Cafe, said a lot of their customers were pensioners and families who were on a tight budget. "With petrol and food prices going up, they shouldn't have to pay to park too," she said.

Other coastal car parks proposed for charges are Mountbatten and Strand Street.

The petition - which on Thursday reached almost 1,000 signatures - said the one hour free parking limit proposed at Jennycliff car park, near Plymstock, would cut short the enjoyment for visitors and directly impact local businesses which relied on longer visitor stays.

It asked for parking to be free for three hours.

Tang said she had deliberately kept prices low in the cafe so meals and drinks were affordable for people.

"We are trying to be helpful. I think the council could do the same by extending the free period to three hours," she said.

"I understand the council has a lack of money but there has to be another way.

"One hour is not long enough for people to enjoy the area, spend time with their friends and family and walk dogs."

On Monday, cabinet members agreed to go to out to consultation on introducing the fees, along with price hikes for on and off-street parking in the city and parking permits.

A report to the cabinet meeting said many comparable coastal car parks, not owned by the council, applied charges.

The £2 charge for stays of more than one hour "provides a fair balance by continuing to support short visits", the council said.

A council report said, overall the plans would raise an extra £1.44m a year.

The council will also consult on bringing in charges for blue badge holders on the Hoe promenade after receiving reports of "vehicles parking there for extended periods consistent with commuter use".

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