THE former Bobbett's garage site in the centre of Teignmouth may be used as temporary car parking.

Teignbridge Council officers are preparing a feasibility report which will be considered by the executive in September.

Announcing the move, council leader Cllr Alan Connett said: 'It would bring in an income but it could only be only temporary because it is valuable real estate for the council. We need officers to look at what the time scales are and the potential for revenue.'

The news has been welcomed but campaigners say that a more permanent solution to the town's parking woes is needed.

Sarah Brown, of Northumberland Place, said: 'Ideally it would be for residents because it is an absolute nightmare. Sometimes I have to park a quarter-of-a-mile away from my home.'

She runs the Old Salty bed and breakfast in Northumberland Place and said the parking shortage was hitting the tourist trade.

She said: 'My guests have to do battle like everyone else. People don't stop here because they can't park. You see cars go round and round and just go because they can't find a space.'

She complained that reserved parking spaces at Gales Hill and Quay Road were withdrawn by the council and that when they were available, were costly at £520 a year.

'My son is moving to Twickenham and can get a residents' parking permit for between £50-100. If they can do it in London why on earth can't we do it here and why does it cost so much?'

Councillors at the recent Teignbridge Council executive meeting, when Cllr Connett made the announcement, expressed fears that even if it was made clear the parking was temporary, trying to withdraw it in a few years' time could prove controversial.

June Ball, of Brunswick Street, said that residents would be willing to sign an undertaking acknowledging that the parking was not permanent.

'Anything is better than what we are getting at the moment. It is ridiculous, that a prime site like that has been derelict for years. We need residents' parking. Obviously we don't mind paying,' she said.

Work began on demolishing the former garage a couple of months ago. The site has planning permission for storage but no decision can be made on its long-term future until the Environment Agency has reported on future flooding risks.

A Teignbridge Council spokesman said: 'It would be unlikely to affect how the site is used, as most forms of development can be designed to accommodate flood levels.'

Teignmouth Town Council has set up a parking committee whose remit will be to agree a parking strategy for the town. The committee encompasses residents, traders and county, district and town councillors and it will be holding its first meeting next Thursday.

Cllr Don Baldey said flexibility would be needed.

'It's a nightmare that needs to be sorted. I don't want to pre-empt the committee's decision but in my view it is quite clear residents need some sort of parking permits,' he said.