Car park charges imposed for first time

But Sidley car park remains free ... for now.

The new charges have not gone down well with traders.

A leading figure said: "I am dismayed."

Monday's Rother cabinet decision was made despite concerns by both Sussex Police and the county council.

Both bodies expressed fears that neighbouring streets would suffer increased congestion.

The car park issue has been a hot topic of debate since Rother set out to attract new revenue to help offset Council Tax.

Charges at Little Common and Wainwright Road will be 1 for up to two hours and 3 for more than two hours.

But at the suggestion of Cllr Bill Clements the proposed charge for non-payment is being reduced from 100 to 80 (60 if paid within 14 days).

Standing in for lead cabinet member Cllr Brian Kentfield, Cllr Stuart Earl said Wainwright Road (off town centre) was no different than any other car park.

But at present the cost of maintenance and upgrading fell entirely on the general fund.

Rother leader Cllr Graham Gubby said: "The police say it is used by workers. I understand that. But so are other car parks."

Cllr Earl pointed out that the Inland Revenue regarded free parking as a taxable "perk."

When attention turned to Sidley car park, Cllr Earl said: "I would like to ask the cabinet to consider deferring charging there until we have finished our studies about regeneration opportunities up there and also until we are fully aware what the county council's intentions are about access roads and loading bays.

"Sidley is not a special case because it is a deprived ward as far as car parking is concerned. But if you look at the area it would be greatly affected if high street car parking were removed by the county council.

"Right opposite the car park is a large store where the profits are removed from the local community and which has a free car park and if we charge I don't think it will do us any good as an authority."

Little Common, he said, was a lot smaller car park.

By 8.30 or 9am it was full and it remained full because it was used by people employed at the school.

"I don't think it will have the same impact on the shopkeepers by charging for that."

Cllr Gubby said police had some concern about the school run but Little Common School now ran a successful "walking bus."

Chamber of Commerce and Tourism president David Getty said: "On behalf of the Chamber's Little Common members, I must advise that I am dismayed at the decision to charge for car parking at Little Common.

"Traders at both Little Common and Sidley should be entitled to expect support from Rother for the service they supply to their local communities, not to have their customers deterred.

"I am pleased with the news that parking charges will not be implemented at Sidley and hope that this decision will be made permanent.

"The same decision should have been taken for Little Common."