Teignbridge District Council refuse to back down over car parking charges
In these challenging times, Buckfastleigh Town Council is astonished and dismayed that Teignbridge District Council refuse to follow the examples already set by South Hams District Council and Plymouth City Council and suspend all parking charges in their car parks.
Council staff are travelling from town to town, issuing tickets, interacting with the payment machines and forcing vehicle owners to do the same. This increases the risk of spreading the coronavirus between communities who are trying to self-isolate and penalising residents with the additional stress and cost of parking charges while they are following government guidance to: Stay at Home, Protect the NHS and Save Lives. How is emptying parking machines and issuing tickets an essential activity? Does Teignbridge District Council regard its parking enforcement officers as essential workers?
The Teignbridge website states the following:
Free parking for those directly dealing with the Coronavirus outbreak
Those essential workers and volunteers who are travelling to perform an essential role will receive free car parking. These are:
- All blue light service staff
- NHS and private health care workers
- Social care workers
- Businesses and volunteers delivering essential food and medicine.
Teignbridge District Council has also failed to acknowledge other key workers in their criteria such as our bus drivers and refuse collectors.
Is it a case of revenue before common sense and public safety? Come on Teignbridge do the right thing and protect your residents!
Cllr Andy Stokes, Chair of Buckfastleigh Town Council and Judith Hart, Buckfastleigh Town Clerk
9th April 2020