DULVERTON has launched a bid for devolution as it fights to retain local management of its three public car parks.

Around 100 people packed a public meeting in the town on Monday evening to hear community leaders explain the details behind a move they claim will pose a serious threat to Dulverton's economic future.

The car parks are currently managed by the town council, which is able to retain the revenue - an arrangement unique in the district.

But West Somerset Somerset Council, which owns the facilities, is investigating joining 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 taskforce of wardens.

Although no decision has been taken, the town council has been given notice to quit by the district council, meaning it could have to relinquish its management of the car parks by February.

And town council chairman Cllr Chris Nelder said, if it went ahead, Dulverton would lose between £8,000 and £10,000 - profit that is currently ploughed into local amenities.

Council Tax payers would have to weather a rise in the local precept as well as possible cuts in services, motorists would face increased parking charges and traders would be hit as locals and visitors voted with their feet and shopped elsewhere.

"We consider that the economy of the town will suffer irretrievably," said Cllr Nelder.

"All the Government is talking about at the moment is devolution - handing more things down to a local level.

"This is not devolution and we believe it is worth trying to do something to stop it."

A petition has already been launched and local people are now being urged to join a campaign of action by bombarding district and county councillors, as well as local MP Jeremy Browne, with letters demanding the revocation of the proposal.

"We know as a town council we are only a small voice but perhaps with the voices of others in Dulverton we can fight this," said Cllr Nelder.

He said there were a number of options open to the town council, from asking the issue to be referred to the Audit Commission and lodging a complaint with the Ombudsman to calling for a judicial review - a costly avenue to pursue.

An online petition and 'round robin' emails to muster more support are also being considered.

But some residents at the meeting called for a more militant stance, suggesting a march or other action.

Cllr Nelder said the town council had in the past, and was still actively looking at buying the car parks from the district authority, for which they currently paid £20,000 a year in rent.

Although opponents say there appears to be no legislation stopping the town council managing its car parks, it would not have the power to issue penalty tickets for on-street parking breaches.

District council leader Cllr Keith Ross, who represents Dulverton and is also a town councillor, described the countywide civil parking enforcement partnership as a "retrograde step".

He said his loyalty lay with Dulverton and he supported what the town council was doing.

He said the district council stood to lose about £100,000 from on-street parking on Minehead's seafront if the proposal went ahead.

But he said the county council appeared "determined" to press ahead with it.

Newly elected county councillor for the Dulverton and Exmoor division Cllr Frances Nicholson told the meeting she was not representing the authority and had come along simply to listen to what people had to say.

But she said it was the Government that was asking for a countywide scheme to be put forward.

Local resident Les Silverlock, who has been actively helping the campaign, described the proposal as "a cock-up rather than a conspiracy".

He said there were 14 separate pieces of legislation from the Government putting control of various things into local hands: "This plan is running against current trends."

But Mr Silverlock said he had been in contact with the county council and he believed the authority was beginning to "weaken".

"They are saying they have been tasked by the Government to do this but they are not putting their foot down and saying we must do this."

Mr Silverlock said the county council had to take note of petitions if they had the support of at least five per cent of the electorate.

"Just because Dulverton is a small place doesn't mean we can't fight this.

"This is a strong community. Most of the things here are managed or owned by local people - the car parks should be the same."