TEIGNMOUTH'S parking problems are not going to be solved overnight, a local councillor has warned.

The town council has set up a working group with interested parties to try and come up with solutions that can be passed to the highway authorities.

In a report to the council, the working party chairman, Cllr Martin Bladon, said: 'We agreed this was not going to be solved overnight, but we can achieve some short term goals, as well as have a long term plan.'

Several issues were raised and discussed at the inaugural meeting, and 'more than enough' points were identified to carry forward to the next meeting in August.

Topics covered included continuing negotiations with Teignbridge for the town council to acquire the car park next to Bitton House; using the old Bobbetts Garage site for residents' parking, in the short term; seeking free parking for coaches to encourage trade; and asking Teignbridge to bring forward proposals for using the money from the sale of land for the Lower Brook Street Co-op store, as a matter of urgency.

p Changes to car parking regulations in Teignmouth town centre will yield about half-a-dozen badly-needed extra spaces.

Councillors agreed to leave unchanged the current arrangement whereby lifeboat volunteers can leave their cars outside Morgan's Quay.

Members also decided not to introduce a 30-minute limited waiting in Lower Brook Street.

Members of the Teignbridge Highways and Traffic Orders Committee agreed a package of measures, including small extensions to the Pay and Displays in Den Promenade and Den Crescent.

Two-hour waiting restrictions have been introduced at East Cliff Walk and Quay Road.

No waiting at any time is being extended at Barnpark Road and at the Strand to prevent obstructions. At Chapel Street, a 15m loading bay will replace an area of no waiting at any time.