Permanent solution needed for Eastbourne

17 April 2008
 
A consultation is under way to introduce a permanent parking order in Eastbourne, East Sussex, after a long-running battle between councils meant parking became a free-for-all.

East Sussex County Council has been trying to introduce experimental parking controls in the town centre since October last year, but Eastbourne Borough Council threatened legal action over the scheme, and the county council backed down, fearing a costly legal battle.

The row broke out after Eastbourne said the county could not force motorists to pay to park under an experimental parking order. But now, after failed negotiations with the borough, East Sussex has come back with a new plan – the introduction of permanent orders.

A spokesman for East Sussex said it would rather have had a more flexible experimental order in place but had its hand forced by Eastbourne’s threat of legal action. ‘We have now had to opt for the permanent order which does not need approval from the secretary of state and under which, we know we can charge,’ he said. David Tutt, leader of Eastbourne council, said a consultation would be pointless, as it was well known that residents and businesses were hugely in favour of free parking, and East Sussex wanted to introduce the scheme just to be consistent with other towns in the county.

‘At least, if it was a money-making scheme, we could understand it,’ he said. ‘But even the best estimates suggest the parking scheme won’t break even for at least three years. This doesn’t take into consideration possible vandalism of the equipment, which cost around £300,000 in nearby Lewes last year.’

Eastbourne said it would continue to seek legal advice to determine whether it could prevent the permanent order coming into effect. If it failed, the order was expected to come into effect in October.

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