After years of austerity, the Partnership that runs Torbay Council are investing in Torbay’s car parks after at least a £4million backlog of repairs was identified.

Investment has already begun with lifts and lighting in Torquay’s Harbour car park being upgraded. 20 new ticket machines have been bought and will be installed across Torbay in the coming months, which offer more flexible payment options to customers and electric vehicle charging points are due to be installed across several car parking locations during 2022/23.  

The majority of Torbay’s multi-storey car parks were built between the 1960s and 1980s. Condition surveys are being undertaken and a longer-term investment plan is being developed to ensure the buildings remain safe and fit for purpose. Improving and upgrading lifts, lighting and CCTV will also be included as part of the longer-term investment planning.  

Providing quality car parking facilities not only supports Torbay’s town centres but they form a central part of our offer of Torbay being a premier resort for visitors.  

To reflect demand and support town centres as they continue to recover from the pandemic, on-street and off-street parking zones are set to be introduced across Torbay from this March.  

The change affecting all paid for on-street and off-street parking will see spaces split into zones, with users paying a different tariff depending on what zone they park in.  

Town Centre car parks such as Brixham Centre, Victoria and Station Lane in Paignton, and Lower Union Lane and Union Square in Torquay will be categorised under zone 1 – with rates remaining at the current levels in order to encourage footfall in our town centres.  

Areas that see a higher demand for spaces due to their proximity to key locations or attractions will be categorised under zones 2 or 3, with a charging structure to reflect the demand.  

Cllr Steve Darling, Leader of Torbay Council, said; “We’re committed to ensuring Torbay’s economy thrives. We’ve listened to local businesses and recognised we need to do all we can to support our town centres, that’s why there are no proposed parking fee changes in these areas. To support our vision of Torbay being a premier tourist resort in the UK, we need to make our car parking facilities as attractive and user friendly as we can. Once we know the outcome of the condition surveys, we will need to identify how we fund the longer-term investment plan.”  

Cllr Mike Morey, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture for Torbay Council, said; “We are committed to providing well-maintained and safe parking facilities. We’ve already begun to invest in improving and upgrading facilities across our car parks. Further investment will be necessary to allow us to continue to make improvements, particularly to lifts, lighting and security, which we know are important to users. Officers have been asked to quantify the backlog of maintenance and identify how an improvement plan can be delivered.” 

Full details on the new parking zones and charges which are set to be introduced from 21 March can be found below:

• Off-street car parking charges
• On-street parking charges