Save our Rother Car Parks
The Rother Alliance are planning to implement charges to free car parks across the district including in Little Common, Bexhill Leisure Centre, Sidley, The Gorses, Hurst Green, Sedlescombe, Northiam and Battle.
Drivers should not be used as a cash cow to prop up Council budget shortfalls. Costs of servicing, maintenance and enforcement should be covered and any surplus transparently shown to deliver public improvements, including toilet facilities.
Ring-Go, the Council's preferred payment meter provider, can be expensive and tricky to use as they only accept payment through an app or over the phone.
Charging structures need to reflect desired behaviour change. Too high and people will not use, in this case park on street where it is currently much cheaper. Off street car parks need to be cheaper than on street and similar hours of operation to encourage visitors and provide for residents. If not, Towns suffer through lack of footfall. Councils need to cooperate not compete.