Sidmouth parking to boost Rotary funds

Retail traders and businesses will benefit from council’s exclusive short term reserved winter car parking offer in run up to Christmas

Following a meeting between East Devon District Councillors Matt Booth, Cathy Gardener and John Dyson (ward members for Sidmouth) and Andrew Ennis, the service lead for Environmental Health and Car Parks at East Devon District Council,  it has been agreed that car parking spaces in East Devon District Council’s Mill Street and Holmedale car parks will shortly be available to rent on an exclusive basis, from Monday 7 December to Sunday 27 December, to raise funds for charity and assist in alleviating the heavy demand for parking during the town’s busiest shopping period of the year.

For a suggested minimum donation of £5 per day, the council will be offering temporary reserved car parking permits - lasting one, two or three weeks - on 36 unused parking bays in the centrally located Mill Street and Holmedale car parks. All revenue from these short term permits will be given to the Rotary Club of Sidmouth, which is closely involved in helping the local community through volunteering.

The council’s business support team will collect donations and issue permits - anyone interested in applying for a permit should telephone: 01395 571780 or email: carparks@eastdevon.gov.uk

Commenting on Sidmouth’s pre-Christmas parking offer, Councillor Iain Chubb, Portfolio holder for the Environment at East Devon District Council, said: “We should be doing everything we can to help boost trade before Christmas and I think this short-term parking offer is a great way to help meet the demand for parking in Sidmouth during this busy time of year, while at the same time raising much needed funds for the Rotary Club of Sidmouth.

“Having a car park with unoccupied spaces is of benefit to no-one, so it makes sense to take the opportunity to test public demand for reserved off-street car parking and at the same time use this exercise to help a terrific cause, such as the Rotary.

“This temporary measure will ensure that these under utlised car parking spaces are not wasted, while we prepare to implement public pay-and-display systems at Mill Street car park early next year (2016).
“We would like to encourage as many local businesses or residents as possible to take up this offer and support this wonderful local charity.”

Mr Bill Titley, Treasurer for the Rotary Club of Sidmouth, said: “The Rotary Club of Sidmouth is very grateful for the opportunity to receive donations to their local charity accounts. The extra money will be spent on our various  projects supporting both the elderly and youth groups locally, including organised  outings to the Manor Pavilion theatre for older people, a local primary schools’ gardening competition and our successful “youth speaks” – local schools debating project.”