Steps taken to easeCamber congestion

Camber has one of the busiest beaches on the south coast with upward of 20,000 people arriving in the village on hot summer weekends.

Residents have complained that their drives have been blocked and traffic tail-backs have stretched back as far as Rye Foreign.

Cabinet agreed to simplify the pricing structure for Camber’s car parks, rounding figures to even numbers to make it easier for people to find the correct money when they arrive.

The move will also see the cost of long stay parking reduced, despite the difficult economic environment for the council.

Rother will seek permission to install road signage along the approach to Camber, giving advanced notice of car parking charges and requesting motorists have the correct money available.

The use of electronic message boards will be investigated by the authority, with the intention of giving drivers real-time information on traffic build up in the Camber area before they arrive.

Staff will also be ‘doubled up’ at cash collection points to reduce waiting times.

A Rother spokesman said: “Although the proposals won’t completely eliminate congestion, it is believed they will help ease some of the problems at the popular beauty spot, which can attract tens of thousands of visitors on warm summer days.

The steps are as a result of recommendations from Rother’s services overview and scrutiny committee.

Rother District Council director of services, Tony Leonard, has been authorised to take ‘all necessary measures’ to make sure the proposals are in place for the coming season.

The knock-on effect of congestion in Rye, caused by motorists heading for Camber, was one of the issues raised at the Annual Rye Town Meeting last night.

Rye Police launch an operation each summer to address problems at the busy resort.