A new car park will open in Victoria Square, Paignton, on Saturday 27 June at 8am. This will provide extra parking in the town centre ahead of the busy summer months.

The new car park is an extension of the existing Victoria Centre car park. It will provide 83 extra spaces and is a short walk to Torbay Road, the train station and the seafront.

It will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are spaces for Blue Badge holders, parents with children, motorcycles and taller vehicles.

This extra parking will help make sure there are still enough spaces when Hyde Road car park closes later this year for redevelopment.

This is part of a wider plan to provide more parking now, while preparing for a permanent car park in the future.

A local artist has also created a colourful mural inspired by the English Riviera Airshow. It shows an RAF Typhoon jet and helps make the area feel more welcoming.

Some people have raised concerns about older multi-storey car parks being removed. However. These buildings need to be taken down so new developments can be built more quickly.

This helps being new homes and facilities to the area sooner, while still making sure there is parking available in the meantime.

We are also looking at plans for a new, modern multi-storey car park in the future.

Future plans for the area include around 200 new homes, health facilities and some shops, helping to create a lively town centre.

Cllr Chris Lewis, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Leader for Place Development and Economic Growth, said; “The extra parking will help keep Paignton easy to visit while improvements are made to the town centre. Removing older buildings now means we can move more quickly when building work begins”.

The beach is about a five-minute walk away, and Torbay Road is a one minute walk away, where you can find shops and restaurants.