South Hams residents will find it easier to park from today as Devon County Council has eased restrictions in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

On-street parking enforcement patrols will be temporarily relaxed by Devon County Council from Monday, March 23, in order to help residents parking outside their homes while working from home or self-isolating.

The county council’s parking enforcement teams will reduce enforcement on certain roads, but double yellow lines will still be enforced.

Changes to routine patrols have been made to enable officers to concentrate their efforts on keeping key routes running normally, a spokesperson said.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for highway management, said: “We must keep the network moving but we also recognise the concerns in residential areas where people are needing to park at home more often due to the need for social distancing and home working.

“We’re facing exceptional challenges presented by the coronavirus and we all need to play a role in responding to that. Our parking teams are adapting and re-focusing their efforts to help our communities through this challenge.”

As a minimum, the council’s parking teams will seek to maintain free flow of traffic by managing parking on strategic routes.

These routes include all A and B roads; the main access route to settlements with a population of 500 or more; emergency premises, ‘strategic’ hospitals and doctor’s surgeries; bus routes; supermarkets and food distribution centres; and locations identified as needing enforcement to permit refuse collection.

In order to focus resources to these strategically important locations, enforcement will be removed from the following, except where identified as being on a strategic route or location: peripheral areas – including coastal and tourist destinations; residential areas – including residents’ parking bays (except restrictions in these areas, such as yellow lines); central commercial areas – including limited waiting and pay and display.

Civil enforcement officers will also be working their beats from vehicles rather than walking in order to assist with social distancing.

For more information, visit the council’s parking webpages at https://www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/parking/