SIDMOUTH Chamber of Commerce is calling for free parking in the town s Manor Road car park in the winter months. The chamber objected strongly to Devon County Council s proposals to add parking restrictions to Manor Road which were agreed in July and intr

SIDMOUTH Chamber of Commerce is calling for free parking in the town's Manor Road car park in the winter months.

The chamber objected strongly to Devon County Council's proposals to add parking restrictions to Manor Road which were agreed in July and introduced in October.

Motorists are now banned from parking on the street between 10am and 6pm all year round.

The chamber's autumn newsletter says that DCC should not have reduced parking places in the town until a broader solution such as a park and ride scheme had been agreed and introduced.

It states: "One solution would be to make parking in the Manor Road car park free during the four winter months when it is very much under-used."

It is argued that the car park generated only �11,000 from November 2008 to February 2009- in comparison to �250,000 generated annually by the Ham car park.

The newsletter also states: "Making the car park free would mean that there would not be the costs of emptying the machines and enforcing payment so the net loss to the district council would be insignificant.

"This move would give Sidmouth a golden opportunity to publicise the availability of free parking in the crucial Christmas and January sales period.

"The change would significantly improve the situation in the quiet residential roads adjoining the town centre, and have the environmental benefit of reducing the amount of traffic touring the town looking for parking spaces."

The chamber also noted that by parking in the same area, people could walk in groups rather than as individuals which would improve safety.

In September, the town council wrote to EDDC asking it to consider reducing its charges at the car park.

At the time councillor Jeffrey Turner said: "It is hardly ever used and the district council would do well to re-consider charging at that car park for the winter months.