Sidmouth: Residents' parking permit fees set to rise if plans approved

The cost of residents' parking permits is set to rise under plans revealed by Devon County Council.

If approved, the price of permits will increase to £35 for a property's first vehicle, a rise of £5. Second permits will then be priced higher depending on the vehicles' carbon emissions, while extra permits on top of that will cost £65.

All residential permits currently cost £30; a price the council says hasn't increased since 2015. The price for a business permit for one vehicle is also going up to £35.

Explaining the move, which does not apply to Plymouth and Torbay, the county council said the consumer price index has increased approximately 19.5 per cent since the last rise – more than the planned base permit increase of approximately 17 per cent.

Under the proposed new scheme, which follows a public consultation, the only residential permits that will be priced according to a vehicles' carbon emissions will be the second one in a household.

They will be £45 for electric and low-emitting vehicles in Band A (less than 100g/km), £55 for Bands B – K (101-225g/km) and £65 for the worst emitting vehicles in Bands L – M (226+ g/km)

A property's first permit will be £35 irrespective of carbon emissions, as will the £65 price for a third vehicle or any additional ones.

Permits will also be required for motorcycles (first permit £35, second permit £45, extra permits £65).

Once the new scheme has been adopted all future permits will be issued virtually, which the council says will benefit the environment and see a reduction in waste.

It claims the new pricing structure will "positively affect a reduction in consumption of fossil fuels in private vehicles by encouraging the uptake of fuel efficient/low emission vehicles and discouraging multiple car ownership.

"It is hoped more [people] will consider changing the mode of travel or adopt other sustainable modes of travel."

Other changes to the permit scheme include:

• Refunds will be issued for part-used virtual permits.
• Introduction of virtual visitor permits which will be available as an alternative to physical ones.
• £30 per batch of 350 hours (allocated in 1 hour sessions) for schemes operating at all times (24hr/7days).
• £30 per batch of 200 hours (allocated in 1 hour sessions) for schemes not operating at all times.
• Virtual visitor permits will be required for motorcycles.
• Refunds will be issued for part-used batches of virtual visitor permits.
• New £10 administrative charge for essential visitor permits.
• Price for Exmouth (Langerwehe Way) business occupier permits and charity business permits increased to £35 for each permit.
• Supported living and school business permits introduced at charity business permit rate.
• Proof will be required for all applications.
• Exemption for car club vehicles from residents parking restrictions (including limited waiting and pay & display with exemptions for residents permit holders).

A report, due to be presented to a meeting of the cabinet later this month – rescheduled because of the queen's death – also provides information on how Devon's system compares to neighbouring local authorities.

Plymouth and Torbay currently charge £30 each for residents permits, with a maximum of two per household, while the prices differ completely in Cornwall and Somerset.

A first Cornish household permit costs £50 and £75 for the second. Only two are allowed per household.

Somerset's scheme is based on the carbon emissions of vehicles for the first permit. They cost £60 as standard, but are discounted by either 100 or 50 per cent if a vehicle emits less than 100g or 110g/km. Second permits cost a flat fee of £100.

Devon's ruling cabinet will consider and vote on the changes at a meeting on Monday 26 September.