BUSINESSES and councillors in Tavistock were this week jubilant, following the news that Devon County Council was suspending its controversial proposals to introduce parking meters in the town centre.

The proposals, which affected ten of the county's market and coastal towns, including Okehampton, were due to be debated at the county's cabinet meeting yesterday (Wednesday).

Cllr Stuart Hughes, the county's cabinet member for highways, this week confirmed the item had been withdrawn.

He said: 'We're not scrapping this process, we're simply taking a step back to allow us some time to talk in more detail with towns, parishes, traders and emergency services.

'We've listened to what people are saying and we've heard that towns do have problems with traffic. But we need to be able to look again at each town and come up with a comprehensive traffic management plan for each of them.'

He said some form of pay and display might well form part of those plans, and the county council would continue to listen in order to address parking and traffic problems.

Tavistock Chamber of Commerce and the town council opposed the parking meter proposals and were furious at the lack of consultation by the county council, prior to publication of the amended traffic orders.

Tavistock mayor Cllr David Whitcomb said he was 'absolutely delighted' at the news.

He said: 'It's brilliant. Cllr Hughes met with the full council last week and everyone expressed their strong opposition to the idea of parking meters.

'At the end of the day this was about the councils and the people of these towns getting together and saying we don't want this.

'Parking meters would not have worked for Tavistock — the retailers in the town are going to have a very difficult time indeed this year in the current financial climate and parking meters would have made things even worse for them.

'I am absolutely delighted that common sense has prevailed.'

Nigel Eadie, chamber chairman, this week said: 'It's encouraging that they've listened to the strong opposition to parking meters and it's encouraging they want to work together for the good of the town.

'This bodes well for other things of a similar nature — it shows that when people are galvanised and put their support behind something, things can be achieved.

'I think a lot of people thought this was a pre-determined policy that was unstoppable, so this is really good news.'

West Devon Borough Council's heritage champion, Liberal Democrat Cllr Adam Bridgewater, said he had been shocked when he first heard of the proposals to install 14 parking meters in Tavistock, part of a World Heritage Site.

He said: 'This U-turn by Devon County Council is a victory for people power. I know most residents and local businesses do not want to see parking meters in our unique historic town.'

The traffic order amendments detailing the parking meter proposals for Tavistock were advertised in November and sparked 295 responses from the public. A county council spokesman said the council was unable to say how many were for or against the proposals as the Times went to press.