Proposed price increase for car park permits

The district council is proposing to increase the price of an annual permit from £500 to £577.50 from April 1.

The authority also wants to raise the price of half yearly and nominated car park permits from £300 to £350.

Rother District Council’s Cabinet committee is due to meet on Monday (March 18) to decide whether to adopt the new charges.

The proposals have been greeted with disappointment by business leaders.

Dale Cromwell, chairman of the Battle and District Chamber of Commerce said: “By raising this they are making it just that little bit harder for shop owners who are already struggling to get people in, which is a real shame.”

Rother District Council says it has to find £1.5 million in savings over the next two years.

RDC chief executive, Derek Stevens said: “There is no doubt that we are facing some very difficult choices, the authority has already found £1.7 million of savings over the last two years, and we are now faced with having to find another £1.5 million over the next two years.

“As we go through our budgets, it is inevitable that many council services will come under close scrutiny.

“Currently nothing has been decided. We will be discussing parking permits and possible increases.

“We won’t be discussing hourly charges for the time being.”