Residents are leading a call for CCTV to be installed around the Land of Canaan car park after vehicles were damaged at the weekend.
Motorists have been left footing the bill after wing mirrors were smashed and motors dented in what has been described as ‘mindless, unnecessary behaviour’.
Ottery Town Council has written to the district council after it received letters from concerned residents calling for it to consider installing cameras as a ‘matter of urgency’.
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he does all he can to avoid using the car park through fear his vehicle may be damaged.
The father-of-one said: “The damage caused by individuals this weekend just sums up the type of mindless, unnecessary behaviour that one can assume only occurs in these areas because of their remote locations on the fringes of the town.
“There is nowhere to park, so we have a permit. There are a lot of us that have to pay a lot of money to park in the car parks, especially that one [Land of Canaan].
“People just go and do whatever they like because they are not being watched.
“I think a serious case should be put forward to either or both Devon county and East Devon councils to install CCTV in these areas.
“CCTV presence in these areas would surely bring back confidence for residents wishing to use these facilities and act as a deterrent for these mindless idiots from causing thousands of pounds worth of damage again.
“It’s got to the point where you want to live here because it’s a nice town, and there is a minority that ruins that peace and quiet.”
District councillor Peter Faithfull, who represents the Ottery Town ward, said: “There have been problems in that car park for a long time.
“I would support the idea of some cameras at the car park. You do not have the right to bash and crash and vandalise other people’s private property - it’s absolutely disgraceful.”
East Devon District Council was approached for comment.
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