A ban on camper vans in Sidmouth town centre car parks was officially overturned on Thursday, but over night stays are still outlawed.

The U-turn from East Devon District Council (EDDC) follows a campaign by motorists, who said the previous measures preventing vans from parking in the town centre car parks were ‘draconian’.

EDDC is still encouraging van owners to park their vehicles in the larger car parks for greater ease of access and reminds drivers of larger vans that if they take up two spaces, they must pay for both.

Under the new rules, parking will be allowed between 8am and 10pm and overnight parking is still prohibited in all car parks.

Campaigner Helen Gibson-West, of Russell Street, welcomes a more ‘common sense approach’ from the authority, but still feels the new rules are too restrictive.

Read a full response in the Herald on Friday.