Traders in South Hams having to pay for staff parking fees

Small business owners in South Devon have said higher parking charges are making it harder to recruit and retain staff, with some having to pay for their staff to be able to park.

South Hams District Council had frozen parking charges for four years but decided to increase them in April.

Some business owners in Kingsbridge, Salcombe and Modbury said a discount scheme currently offered to residents should be offered to employees.

South Hams District Council said it “understood times are tough” and that it wanted to support businesses.

Prices vary across the district with some car parks charging as much a £15 for 24 hours.

“I’m picking up staff parking costs as they can’t afford it,” said Nikki Povey, from Charles Head estate agents in Kingsbridge.

“Streets with unrestricted parking have been overrun, meaning staff have to pay for parking, and it isn’t viable for them all.”

Tonya McGauley, sales manager at Salcombe Gin, said her company was also “absorbing” the costs for staff.

“When people are looking for a job in Salcombe we’re having to negotiate things around the parking,” she said.

“People know how expensive parking is and so they find a job in Kingsbridge or closer to home.”

In Modbury, small businesses are feeling the impact too.

Madison Oman, who works at Modbury Pharmacy, said nearly all her colleagues drive to work from outside the South Hams and the cost of parking meant staff avoided car parks.

“The long-stay is £7.50 to park all day so we don’t use the car parks as we don’t want to pay that much money,” she said.

“One of our staff used the car parks before the prices went up but they don’t anymore.”

South Hams District Council said it was “pleased” to have kept parking charges frozen for local residents.

“The main issue is the availability of spaces, not the cost, so we’re changing permit use in Dartmouth and Salcombe to help with this,” said Councillor Julian Brazil, the executive member for community services and operations.

“From April there will be inflation-related increases but resident permit prices will still use the lower discount rates,” he said.

“I know residents are watching costs closely so our parking permit prices will continue to be set using the lower resident discount tariffs.”

He added: “We offer cheaper permits for single vehicles and specific car parks plus a monthly payment option to help spread costs.

“We do understand times are tough and we want to support businesses so we will review this again.”