Concerns have been raised by Kingsbridge Town Councillors about the limited parking enforcement available in South Hams towns.

The Councillors say the limited parking enforcement in South Hams towns has led to persistent rule breaking by motorists and that is also reducing parking availability.

It is also negatively affecting the High Street.

A spokesperson for the council said: “One warden should cover both on-street and off-street enforcement.

“This could be a full-time role for one person in Kingsbridge.”

At their last meeting, the councillors discussion included the potential introduction of meters for free parking periods, with possible support from the Chamber of Commerce and Kingsbridge Town Council.

Work is ongoing to unify on-street and off-street enforcement arrangements.

Currently the car parks, with the exception of Tesco and Morrisons, come under the control of South Hams District Council whilst on-street parking is the domain of Devon County Council.

Leader of Devon County Council and South Hams District Councillor Julian Brazil said: “As it stands, we have different traffic wardens from the district and the county.

“That’s obviously ridiculous and the sooner we can have one traffic warden enforcing both car parks and on street parking the better.

“It’s certainly something we are determined to sort out as soon as possible.”

SHDC car parks are chargeable between 8am and 8pm.

The time that you can stay varies from a maximum of four hours at Fore Street to 12 hours at Lower Union Road and Cattlemarket (Rope Walk) and 24 hours at Quay Car Park (Square’s Quay) and Duncombe Park.

Tesco offers an hour and a half of free parking and this is the same at Morrisons.

SHDC and DCC parking tickets (penalty charge notices) are either £50 or £70 (depending on the severity of the offence) but can be reduced by 50 per cent if paid within14 days.