Petition calls for increase in Eastbourne parking charges to be reversed

A rise in parking charges came into effect on July 1 after being postponed from April.

Businesses across the town are furious though and say the increase is doing nothing to help them bring customers back following the lengthy Covid-19 lockdown.

Hundreds have now signed a petition calling on East Sussex County Council to reverse the increase and MP Caroline Ansell is also supporting the campaign.

The Eastbourne Business Improvement District group is behind the petition and has been lobbying for the reversal.

Leanna Forse from Eastbourne BID said, “We represent more than 600 businesses within the town centre and we invited Claire Dowling, the lead member for transport at the county council, to meet with the board of directors to hear our concerns and feedback. Unfortunately, this invite was declined.

“During a time when we are being discouraged from using public transport, following a long period when very few businesses were able to continue trading, we believe it is paramount to create an inviting environment, encouraging people to visit the town centre in order to shop locally and have some kind of normality.

“Footfall is down due to the pandemic. To hike up parking charges now could be massively detrimental to businesses and to Eastbourne as a whole. Visitors and town centre staff are driving into work as car sharing and public transport are not recommended.

“During the last 40 years, the traditional shopping experience has undergone some monumental changes, affecting the way we shop.

“The development of out of town shopping centres and the emergence of online shopping – magnified by the pandemic – has all led to a decrease in footfall within town centres, in turn harming shops on the high street.

“With this latest shock to our way of life, our local businesses are at risk. Increasing parking charges now is wrong. We call on East Sussex County Council to reverse the increase in car parking charges.”

The county council says it appreciates businesses face significant challenges as a result of the Covid-19 crisis and, rather than hinder their recovery, “an increase in charges is expected to lead to an increased turnover of on-street spaces in the town centre and footfall, which will benefit the local economy”.

A spokesperson said, “The increase to on-street parking charges, agreed in January but delayed due to the pandemic, is the first in Eastbourne since 2008 and does not affect the 1,718 off-street parking places in town centre car parks that offer cheaper and longer-stay parking.

“In the short-term, public transport does remain limited, but we have seen a substantial increase in the number of people walking and cycling as an alternative to public transport and car use, something that we are supporting with measures as part of the Government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund.

“The decision to increase parking charges was made in January following extensive consultation, and discussed again in March when implementation was deferred due to the Covid-19 crisis.

“Councillor Claire Dowling was invited by BID to discuss the reasons for the increase a week before the charges came into effect. The reasons for the increase have been well publicised and discussed at length, and Cllr Dowling shared the report presented at January’s lead member meeting and the findings of the consultation with BID.”

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