Motorists set for car park charges

Councillors at Monday's cabinet meeting at Battle voted to introduce charges at the free car parks at 40-space Little Common and 60-space Beeching Close by four to one with one abstention.

They took no action over the free car park at Sidley but will consult over Manor Gardens in Old Town. The new charges look likely to be set at 1 for two hours and 3 over two hours.

The standard excess charge would be set at 100, with the fine lowered to 60 if paid within 14 days.

It is part of the effort to keep Council Tax within government bounds. Two communities affected have condemned the move.

Cabinet also invited officers to make proposals for clamping fines to tackle illegal parking.

The matter will be reported back to cabinet for further consideration and the decision will then be referred back to the full council to be ratified.

But Cllr Stuart Earl said dependency on the car was caused in some cases by the lack of public transport. The retired bakery boss warned: "The customer has been driven to out-of-town shopping because facilities are free. The principle of charging is a short-term gain and a long-term loss if we are not careful."

Speaking about the Strand car park at Rye, local member Cllr Sam Souster said traders parked there all day but just paid the minimum charge as they knew they weren't checked.

Director of services Anthony Leonard said: "We have three compliance officers who work through the area doing all the car parks and issuing tickets. What we could do is expand that to officers' jobs."

Council leader Graham Gubby suggested introducing clamping as a method of enforcement. The meeting also looked at the 100-space free car park at Sidley.

Cllr Earl said: "The car park is under-used in Sidley and with all the out-of-town parking available for shopping, I am very concerned about the whole fabric of a small community.

"I would like to see our involvement in that process.

"I think we shouldn't implement the decision until we have had time to work with East Sussex County Council."

Manor Barn was included Mr Leonard's district-wide report under the heading of amenity car parks which also includes Broad Oak Park, spaces at the top and bottom of Galley Hill, Little Common recreation ground, St Mary's recreation ground, Polegrove, Egerton Park and the Leisure Centre.

But Mr Leonard warned that charging in amenity car parks could have a detrimental effect on public use of the facilities they serve.

r Little Common Business Association is planning to submit a formal objection before the scheme goes to full council on Monday week.

Chairman Roy Freeman said: "In my view it is going to do nothing to try and assist in bringing trade to Little Common. In fact I cannot see what it is going to do at all."

But he added: "To be frank, I am surprised it has taken this long in many ways because the council are always going to be looking at ways of raising revenue. But I can't see where this is going to finish."

So concerned is the association about freeing-up parking spaces for shoppers that it has been lobbying the county highways authority. It wants congested Church Hill Avenue made one-way so more spaces could be created.

r Old Town Preservation Society would be "vehemently" against the imposition of parking charges at Manor Gardens, says chairman Michael Kent.

Charges would directly affect the viability of Manor Barn, which the charity runs under lease from Rother.

He said: "I realise the authority has got to raise some money but I just feel that another way ought to be found."

Referring to the overall proposals, he said: "I just feel that this is another nail in the coffin for the town's retailers.

"It seems unfortunate that we don't have more councillors with retail experience.

"We would be vehemently opposed to charges being imposed at Manor Gardens. We took over the Manor Barn to help the town out because Rother couldn't run the place. We are running it with charitable money and making a reasonable fist of it."