SOUTH Hams Council has agreed to change car park tariffs in Ivybridge in a bid to encourage people into the town centre.

With immediate effect, and in time for this Friday’s Christmas lights switch on, all day parking in Leonard’s Road car park is now only two pounds, with an hour’s parking reduced from 80p to 50p in all three of the town’s council-owned car parks.

The half hour parking rate has now been abolished, and while Harford Road and Glanvilles Mill will continue to be short stay car parks, Glanvilles Mill is limited to a one hour maximum stay.

The change in prices has come at the request of Ivybridge Town Council and the business community.

District councillor Mike Saltern, ward councillor for Ivybridge West said: ‘It is really important to encourage shoppers to spend more time in the town, and the way to do that is to reduce car parking charges.’

Councillor Rufus Gilbert is the council’s executive member responsible for commercial services. He said: ‘I am certain that the changes to the car park tariffs in Ivybridge will have a positive effect and will make it cheaper for residents to shop in the town, which will benefit all of our local businesses.

‘South Hams Council has a policy of ‘Community led tariffs’, which allows local communities to work with officers in agreeing tariffs to suit each town’s needs.’