DULVERTON continued its fight to retain local management of the town's three public car parks this week by demonstrating the wealth of support for its bid for devolution.

Town council chairman Chris Nelder handed over a petition to West Somerset Council, which is investigating a proposed countywide civil parking enforcement partnership that would see responsibility for enforcing both on and off-street parking pass from the police to a civil task force of wardens.

Dulverton's car parks, which are owned by the district council, are currently managed by the town council, which retains the revenue - a unique arrangement in the district.

But a furious Cllr Nelder, who was among a six-strong delegation from Dulverton who travelled to the district council offices in Williton on Wednesday evening, criticised the authority for failing to allow him to present the petition to councillors and speak on the issue.

He said the town council's clerk had been told by corporate services group manager Wendy Bass that he would be able to make a statement at the full council meeting, but not ask any questions.

But the delegation was not even allowed in the chamber and had to hand over the petition to district council chairman Eddie May in the foyer of the authority's offices before the meeting began.

"The whole point is that the decision to terminate this agreement over the management of our car parks has been made by officers and has not been debated by councillors," said Cllr Nelder.

"I wanted the members of the council to be able to see the strength of feeling there is about this and I am really cross that we were not able to do that.

"Apart from that, six people had a wasted journey to Williton - I am just so angry."

Cllr Nelder said he had wanted to speak on behalf of people living, working and visiting Dulverton.

He said the petition contained 798 signatures, representing 535 Dulverton residents - roughly 46% of the adult population - 97 visitors and 166 individuals from surrounding parishes.

In addition, there were 131 signatures on the Prime Minister's e-petitions web site, set up by an independent member of an adjoining parish.

"This in our view is a clear indication of the strength of feeling amongst those who use these facilities, against the proposals to remove the management of the car parks in Dulverton from Dulverton Town Council."

The petition reads: "We consider that the economy of this town will suffer irretrievably as a result, and that the proposal goes totally against current Government policy, with regards to sustainable rural communities and the devolvement of functions to local councils."

Cllr Nelder said he understand that a recommendation was to be made to the council's cabinet to withdraw the notice of termination of the management of the car parks, which had been served on the town council.

But the offer was only to extend the existing agreement for one year.

Cllr Nelder, who was due to begin negotiations over the temporary reprieve this week, claimed the proposal was nothing more than a short term solution to a situation which had caused considerable financial uncertainty and a lack of resolve for many years.

He said he would be contacting his local district councillors to try and get the issue debated fully at the earliest opportunity.

" I am urgently requesting that the members of the district council are given the opportunity to debate and resolve this issue, bearing in mind current and probable, future Government policy, with the intention to provide financial stability and sustainability not only to the town of Dulverton but also other small communities who are able, and willing, to manage their own financial affairs."

As exclusively reported previously in the Free Press, a public meeting in the town in July to protest about the loss of control of the car parks attracted around 100 people.

They were told that taking away the local management of the facilities would mean the loss of between £8,000 and £10,000 for Dulverton - money that was currently being ploughed into local amenities.

Pictured handing over the petition to Eddie May (second right) are Rod Coynes, Chris Nelder, Tony Snell and Margaret Rawle.

Photo: Steve Guscott