Welcome as parking fees dropped

The fees generated more than £100 a day for the town

Traders in Camelford are welcoming the expected return of the town's free car park by the end of this week.

Eight out of the 11 town councillors voted in at last Thursday's elections were standing on the promise to get rid of the pay and display charges.

The council is expected to remove the 30p an hour charge at the Churchfield car park after its meeting on Thursday.

The Chamber of Commerce said businesses had noticed a drop in trade since the charges began in 2005.

Funds fear

Vice Chairman Julian Harman said: "It's excellent news.

"Since pay and display was introduced the businesses of Camelford have suffered tremendously from the lack of customers."

But Bonnie Grills, who has just been voted off the town council after 10 years, said the town was going to lose an important source of income which helped activities such as the youth club, Christmas lights and the town band.

She said: "The car park has generated on average more than £100 a day.

"It was the first time Camelford has had an asset to generate income into the town."

But a referendum of local residents showed most people wanted to keep the car park free. Councillor Philip Clark, who began the free car parking campaign, said council taxes would not rise as a result.

He said: "We have looked at the books and we think we can make enough cuts to provide it for free."