Alarm over parking charges

THE introduction of car parking charges at South Hill Barn, Seaford, could destroy its natural beauty, town councillors have warned.

Lewes District Council plans to carry out a survey to establish car park use and consider whether charges should be introduced at the area which is popular with families and dog walkers.

Seaford Town Council members voiced their horror at the prospect during a community service committee meeting on Thursday last week.

The Mayor, Cllr Jill Rosser, said: 'The area is completely unspoiled and uncommercialised. If charges were introduced people might start to want something for their money.'

This could lead to the area being transformed from an unspoilt patch of grass to a regular car park. The Mayor added: 'If they were asked to pay people would start to say they would need a better surface there. It would be the thin edge of the wedge in changing the unspoilt nature of the area.'

Cllr Rosemary Collict said charges would merely result in people parking in the approach road. Cllr Roger Frost was concerned an electricity supply would have to be run to the site to power ticket machines.

The machines would be an open invitation to thieves because of their remote location said Cllr Laurie Holland. 'I could see someone with a hack-saw cutting them off. This is ill conceived and has not been thought through,' he added.