TOPSHAM traders, residents and councillors have accused Exeter City Council of not listening to them over car parking charges.

A petition against increased charges in Topsham – which in some cases represented a rise of 600 per cent – has been signed by almost 1,400 people, as reported in last week's Echo.

But council leaders decided to press ahead with the new charges. The increases, and changing the Quay car park to a short-stay, were first approved at a meeting of the city's executive in December and have again been backed by the authority despite the petition and other letters from traders.

Ian Alders, owner of Westaways hardware store in Topsham's Fore Street, said: "They should have given more time to this. It is almost as if right from the beginning they were not going to change their minds."

Liz Hodges, owner of cafe-bar Route2, said: "It is disgraceful how they have acted. We have always been willing to talk about ways forward, trying to reach a compromise, but they continue to refuse to take into account public opinion.

"The new charges will undoubtedly have an affect on our community, both business and residents."

Topsham city councillor Margaret Baldwin told the Echo: "This decision affecting the two Topsham car parks has been made purely to raise extra revenue for the council.

"The council's reasoning does not stack up. The problem of traders and their employees 'blocking' spaces all day could be resolved by persuasion through issuing season parking permits for the long-stay car parks, and the amount of extra income generated is hardly going to have much impact on the council's budget. This is a bad decision based on a lack of information and with no wish to discuss the issue with the people affected by it.

"There has been no consultation and they are choosing to ignore the protests of over 1,000 people."

Fellow Topsham city councillor Rob Newby said: "I am not pleased to say the least – as the council is just not listening.

"Topsham is unique, a little island on a corner, and this is one of those issues which has not been looked at thoroughly."

A spokesman for the city council said: "The petition has been considered by Karime Hassan, Director of Economy and Development, in consultation with the lead councillor and the leader of the council.

"Following due consideration of the points raised by objectors, the decision has been taken to proceed with the tariff changes approved by executive in December."