Parking charges a step closer

ON-street parking charges for Lewes came a step close on Monday when East Sussex County Council agreed to progress the scheme, subject to some changes.

The council's consultants recommended a number of alterations, including:

l Removing the Wallands and Malling areas from the controlled zone;

l Extending it to include Juggs Close;

l Simplifying the zonal structure for residential parking;

l Adding a separate commercial zone along the High Street and Cliffe in which no residential permits would be valid during the day;

l Reduction in the proposed hours of operation to 8am to 6pm.

Bob Wilkins, transport director, said: 'There is a strong basis of local suppoort and, although a substantial number of people are opposed to the proposal, even many of those have expresed the view that something needs to be done.'

One person would be needed to manage the scheme and about 10 staff would be needed to administer it. It would be self-financing.

Lewes Chamber of Commerce spokesman Iris Buckley later told the Express: 'Improvements to town centre parking are needed. We support this scheme as well as the initiatives to reduce traffic flow.

'However we remain concerned that commuter parking will simply be displaced into other residential areas, which is not an ideal solution. We will therefore continue to push for designated commuter parking to be included in the council's transport strategy.'