A LOCAL hero first responder who is often on call for 13-hours at a time, has been refused an appeal for a parking despensation in Salcombe.

Tim Hore, who, with his wife Liz, is licensee at the Victoria Inn, has been a first responder for four years.

He is on call from early in the morning to late at night and is often called out twice a day – something he does without monetary compensation or expenses. The expenses are paid by Tim himself, or by money raised locally.

The local community raised money a few years ago to buy Tim a small car to keep his NHS kit in and to get to patients. The car, which is badged and sign-written, is only used while Tim is on duty.

Before the start of this year, Tim’s first responder car was parked on yellow lines not far from the Victoria Inn. South Hams Council originally gave him dispensation for the car to be parked on Clifton Place.

However, when Devon County Council took over responsibility for street parking, they revoked the dispensation.

With the help of Cllr Rufus Gilbert, Tim obtained a business permit to allow parking in residents’ spaces.

But the only resident spaces near to the Victoria Inn are in Courtenay Street, which is constantly full, especially at this time of year.

For more on this story, see this week’s Kingsbridge & Salcombe Gazette