Woolacombe and Mortehoe demand action over parking

IRATE parishioners of Woolacombe and Mortehoe have called on county council leader Brian Greenslade to intervene, as they reach boiling point over parking issues in the two villages.

At a packed AGM of Mortehoe Parish Council, villagers voted unanimously to invite the council leader to meet parish councillors and help sort out the parking problems in the busy holiday resort.

Parish council chairman Jon Richards said: "People are very angry. You can get some indication of the level of that anger by the fact that normally at our parish meetings, we have a public turn-out of between one and 10. This year there were well over 50.

"And they made it plain at the meeting that they recalled very clearly the wording on the county council public consultation sent out just five years ago, promising a dedicated warden to the parish.

"The warden was to be paid for by the parish having agreed to the installation of five pay-and-display machines on the Esplanade.

"Now the county council have gone back on the deal and are pocketing the £35,000 a year generated by the machines and giving us minimum coverage in return. We have sent a personal invitation to Mr Greenslade in the hope that he will be able to intervene to help."

Mr Richards added that Mr Greenslade had responded and agreed to meet representatives from the parish this week.