Hampshire County Council decision day on parking charges proposed for Marine Drive East and Marine Drive West in Barton and at Saltgrass Lane and New Lane in Keyhaven to take place on Friday 16th May

A DECISION on proposals to implement street parking charges at two coastal beauty spots is expected later this month.

As reported in the A&T, the new charges are proposed along Marine Drive East and Marine Drive West in Barton and at Saltgrass Lane and New Lane in Keyhaven.

Parking at both sites is currently unrestricted, attracting regular complaints from residents during summer when mobile homes and campervans can be seen lining the roads.

However, a previous parking scheme announced by Hampshire Country Council last year, led to hundreds of negative responses from local residents and a petition from business owners claiming the new charges would drive customers away.

HCC then amended its plans, with a proposal to make on-street parking chargeable between 10am and 6pm, coupled with a ban on overnight parking by campervans and mobile homes between 8pm and 8am.

HHC member for Milford Cllr Fran Carpenter said she has received notice the scheme will be considered at the HHC Executive Member Decision Day meeting on Friday 16th May, when Cllr Lulu Bowerman will decide how the proposals for parking restrictions at Barton and Keyhaven should move forward. The meeting will begin at 11am.

The latest proposals were the subject of a public consultation in November 2024. They included a number of new zones which will allow motorists to park free for up to two hours at both sites in a bid to address the concerns expressed by businesses.

A statement published by HCC at the time said: “The revised proposals seek to address many of the comments made at the earlier consultation, namely through the introduction of sections of two hour limited waiting (free parking) to add flexibility for short stays and turnover near businesses.

It continued: “The tariff structure a been revised to be linear, further enhancing short stay parking which will be £1 for an hour, furthermore discounted season tickets will be available for regular users.”

In Barton, a number of spaces close to the Barton Court Avenue junction and outside seafront shops would remain free for a maximum two hour stay between 10am and 6pm. Additional free two hour parking spaces have been added to the amended plans outside the Beach Comber café and the Cliff House restaurant.

Proposed parking restrictions and charges have also been amended in Keyhaven with the addition of two areas where motorist can park for an hour without paying charges. The remaining pay and display areas will operate from 10am to 6pm with no overnight parking of motor caravans from 8pm to 8am.

In 2020 Milford parish councillors reported they were receiving a barrage of daily complaints about wild campers living for “weeks at a time” in vans parked at the coastal site.

Residents in Marine Drive East and Marine Drive West have also regularly complained to Hampshire County Council about significant numbers of mobile homes and campervans parking overnight.

An agenda for the decision day has not yet been published, but will be available to on the HCC website ahead of the meeting.

Cllr Carpenter urged those with an interest to have their say. She said: “You can make representations to Cllr Bowerman before the meeting in writing to lulu.bowerman@hants.gov.uk or on the decision day in person, at the online meeting.”

To register to speak at the meeting visit: www.hants.gov.uk/aboutthecouncil/councillors/speakatmeeting