The car park for Sidmouth’s Manor Pavilion is set to be run on a ‘pay and display’ basis under plans for 2017/18 unveiled by its owners.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) is also arranging ‘chip and pin’ to take debit card payments at the theatre bar and exploring options for online ticket sales.

The authority wants box office staff to promote its Facebook and Twitter accounts ‘in a much bigger way’, use TripAdvisor to promote the venue and to reach new audiences for its summer season.

Elsewhere, EDDC will continue to explore opportunities to expand its car park portfolio and officers will ‘actively seek’ to acquire additional sites in Sidmouth.

The council also wants to reduce the number of Freedom of Information requests it receives by carrying through its stated transparency aims.

The items are listed as ‘key service objectives’ for EDDC in 2017/18.