South Hams District Council has been looking into creating some spaces for residents at a popular parking area.

SHDC received an enquiry from Salcombe Town Council about a strip of land owned by the district council known as Lower Batson. The town council informed the district council that residents were concerned that they could not park on the strip of land because it was being used by camper vans, trailers, ribs and day trippers for free parking.

Thus, the council had the choice to either do nothing, make it a pay and display area or formalise the area as a resident parking bay.

Following a consultation period, the council decided to create ten residents only parking spaces which have been offered to Batson residents for an annual fee which is consistent with other parking the council offers in Salcombe and Dartmouth.

During the next stage, the district council wrote to the residents who had requested an interest in a parking permit to advise them of the cost and ask them to fill in an application form if they wished to proceed.

The outcome is that the council have seven confirmed space applications and they suspect the others will be taken up shortly. Resurfacing of the area is booked for March to avoid half term.

Cllr Judy Pearce, the district councillor for Salcombe said the district council has responded to “local home owners of Lower Batson who were concerned about a strip of land being misused”.

“After consultation with local home owners and Salcombe Town Council, SHDC has agreed to provide 10 residents only parking spaces, for an annual fee.

“This is a good example of where the district council has responded to suggestions from the community and brought unused land into use for the benefit of the local residents.”

Jeremy Carrivick raised the changes to the parking at Batson on the Salcombe, Politics, Questions and Rhetoric Facebook page, which was met with passionate response from the residents.

Les King commented saying he hoped the spaces do not become “residents only” because the area is “about the only flat walk in Salcombe”.

Judith Newman agreed, emphasising that the spaces should not become permit spaces. “It’s a wonderful place for many less able people to park and walk along the creek” she added.

David Greening added his hope that the council haven’t gone ahead with the plan because he feared “they will end up empty for 11 months of the year”.