Lib Dems call on council to back down over new Jennycliff car parking charges

Plymouth Liberal Democrats are calling on Labour-run Plymouth City Council to ditch proposals to start charging people who park at Jennycliff car park.

The beauty spot, which overlooks the Sound, currently allows people to park all day free of charge.

Local Lib Dems support keeping the car park free. The party argues that this helps support access to a public open space and helps people with the rising cost of living.

Commenting, Lib Dem Steve Guy (pictured, at the car park), the party's candidate for Plymstock Dunstone in the local elections in May, said: "Jennycliff is one of my happy places. It's the most amazing vantage point. I've walked up at Jennycliff when I've needed to clear my mind, looking up at the big sky or out over the Sound. I've been doing it my whole life. As a child with my parents and siblings. As I was growing up, with the Cubs, the Scouts, and the youth club. Later I took my own family there, brought older friends and relatives to stand where I'd once stood. Watched the Red Arrows fly over. Walked the coast there more times than I can count.

"I fear what's happening is that this is just the latest way in which we are losing our open spaces. The Labour council's plans will make it harder for people to take a little time to themselves and escape the city to clear their heads. It'll be harder for people just to sit and enjoy the magnificent view out over the sea without half their mind trying to calculate how long it is before they need to feed the meter."

Referencing the campaign started by the owners of the Jennycliff Café, Steve added: "Personally, I would like it to stay free all day. But I am happy to back the café owners' petition that would give people up to three hours' free parking, rather than the one hour proposed by the Labour council. They are being incredibly reasonable in proposing that, and the council should look to meet them at that compromise."

Plymouth Liberal Democrats are keen to protect the city's public open spaces, where people can just be without having to pay for the privilege.