On-street parking charges in Lewes to rise despite warnings move will deter some visitors

On-street parking charges are to increase for the first time in more than a decade, in what East Sussex County Council says is an effort to encourage ‘more sustainable travel choices’. by Huw Oxburgh, local democracy reporter.
On-street parking charges are set to rise from AprilOn-street parking charges are set to rise from April
On-street parking charges are set to rise from April

On Monday (January 20), the council’s lead member for transport and environment Claire Dowling approved proposals to increase pay and display parking charges by between 20p and £1.90 in Eastbourne, Hastings and Lewes.

Cllr Dowling also approved proposals to standardise the price of residents’ parking permits across the three areas for the first time, with the cost to be tied to the vehicle’s CO2 emissions. 

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In coming to her decision, Cllr Dowling said the proposals were intended to encourage other forms of travel in town centres, reducing congestion and emissions as a result. 

But with on-street parking charges set to double in some areas, the decision drew criticism from several councillors present at the meeting. 

Lewes mayor and town councillor John Lamb argued the increased charges were actually likely lead to a greater congestion and deter some people from visiting the town at all.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Lamb said: “What is so disappointing is that there are no plans to improve access to Lewes for those who do not want to use cars. No mention of improved bus services, cycles lanes across the town or a park and ride scheme.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The 1,700 signatories on a petition against the charges, equivalent to ten per cent of the population, was [also] completely overlooked.”

Parking permits

The standardisation of residents’ parking permits across the three areas will see the cost increase for many residents, particularly those living in Eastbourne.

Currently an Eastbourne resident would only pay £25 for an annual permit (providing it is the first for that address), while a Hastings resident would pay £75. Both are charged at a flat rate no matter the vehicle.

But under the new system, the cost of a first permit would be between £15 and £95 per year in all three areas, with lower emission vehicles to be charged less. This scheme is already in place in Lewes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This element of the scheme saw concerns raised by Braybrooke and Castle councillor Godfrey Daniel (Lab), who argued it would penalise poorer households.

He said: “In reality the people who have eco-friendly cars and electric cars, who are mostly the more well-off in our society, will pay less and the poor people who can’t afford those kind of vehicles pay more. 

“It is particularly exacerbated in the area I represent, which is not only the poorest in the county but probably one of the poorest in the country.”

No civil parking scheme in Wealden

Cllr Daniel also criticised Cllr Dowling for increasing parking charges when her own ward does not have such a civil parking scheme in place.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “I agree with much of what you have said about the environment, none of those points about trying to reduce pollution seems to matter to Wealden, where you represent.

“We have a situation where we are really worried about the environment in other areas, but we are not worried about Wealden. 

“Wealden is the richest district in East Sussex and it is free parking, free for residents everywhere. You have towns like Hailsham and Crowborough where presumably – if you argue it is just about the environment – it would be helpful to have such a scheme.

“I suppose what galls me is that people in Hastings and Eastbourne and Lewes are subsidising buses in the richest part of the county, when they make no contribution. That is not fair. That is not equity.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I know it is a Wealden District function, but I find it a bit rich to be told by Wealden councillors that it is really good for Hastings and Eastbourne, but we don’t make that argument for Crowborough, for Hailsham and other smaller settlements.

“Sorry to put that on you a bit, but I think that is the reality. Should the poorest people in the county in Hastings be contributing to subsidising rural buses that aren’t in Hastings?”

Cllr Daniel’s comments met with a prickly response from Cllr Dowling however, who said she took it as a ‘personal affront’.

She said: “Cllr Godfrey always uses every opportunity to bring up Wealden, he does it with a smile but in this particular case I take it as a personal affront, I take it personally.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The same as with Eastbourne and Hastings and Rother and Lewes, when the opportunity to look into pay and display came up, Wealden District Council as a whole voted for the time being not to undertake Civil Parking Enforcement. That is not for discussion today. That is not in the paper today. 

“What I will also remind others is that first became a councillor in 2003 because of the environmental flooding in 2000. I have worked throughout my political career for environmental – for my town, my district and now my county.

“That is exactly what I am doing now.”