Barton businesses hit out at Hampshire County Council plans for parking charges on Marine Drive East and West in scheme which also includes New Lane in Keyhaven

COASTAL businesses are pleading for a rethink on plans to introduce on-street parking charges amid fears they will drive away customers.

As reported in the A&T, Hampshire County Council is proposing charges along Marine Drive East and Marine Drive West in Barton, along with 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 line the roads.

However, businesses say the proposals to make on-street parking chargeable between 10am and 6pm will add further pressure when they are already facing a “tough trading environment”. Under HCC proposals, motorists would face a charge of £4 for two hours.

Hayley Darbishire, of The Cliff House Restaurant, said: “The mix of retail, hospitality and leisure businesses’ currently rely on customers being able to use the free parking on the clifftop, and in an already challenging trading environment the proposal from the council comes as a blow to the businesses that actually need their support.”

Traders from The Cliff House Restaurant, Beachcomber Café, Osclars Coffee House, Pebble Beach, The Watersplash Gym, Barton News and Bathroom Design Centre say they will all be negatively impacted if parking meters are installed at the clifftop.

Beachcomber owner Malcolm Barry said: “The council has just added £4 onto the cost of a cup of coffee for my customers.

“Not only is the trading environment tough for us at the moment, many of our customers are feeling the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis and this will just make it unaffordable for them.”

The businesses say HCC has also set out its proposals without consulting them.

“Putting such restrictions on car parking is just creating a barrier for people to visit our businesses, and when all we have seen is rising costs over the last 18 months we simply cannot afford to reduce the number of visits too,” said Hayley.

She added: “Reducing frequency of visits, dwell time and therefore spend in the businesses in Barton is not going to benefit the local economy. If you’ve got to pay for your parking, and rush back to your car, you are much less likely to enjoy dessert or even pop in for a coffee at the end of your dog walk.”

Malcolm Partridge, owner of The Watersplash leisure club, revealed some of his customers are already concerned about the proposal.

He said: “A gym membership is already a luxury to many, adding a cost of parking and the stress of having to rush out to move your car has meant my members have already asked me about notice periods.”

The group of independent business owners also believe many visitors will also opt to park in the residential roads back from the cliff top, causing congestion and disruption to people living here. There are also concerns that their ability to recruit staff – especially seasonal workers will be impacted as employees will not want to pay £8 to park for the day whilst they are at work.

Malcolm Barry added: “Who is set to benefit from this proposal? Not the businesses in Barton, who rely on people visiting the area, not the residents who will have to deal with congestion of the smaller roads back from the seafront, not the visitors looking to spend time in Barton on Sea.”

The proposal has also prompted a social media backlash.

One resident wrote: “I feel so sorry for the small businesses relying on visitors both local and further. It actually states on the notice it’s to deter people parking for too long so will be easier to get a space!

“I'm sure the local businesses like The Beachcomber will be delighted no one's staying for coffees, ice creams etc. Such a cynical move from the council to make money.”

Another added: “Not only must people respond to this consultation. They must also send in one comment a day about how lovely the free parking is along the clifftop in order to show support for the current status quo to add further weight to the fact that no one wants this apart from a few entitled people.”

A further Facebook user said: “How lovely is it to be able to park up at Barton for an hour, grab an ice cream, go for a short beach walk and then get back in the car and drive back home without having to pay to park? Adding paid parking on the road will only push people to park on the roads behind the sea front.”

As part of the plans a number of spaces close to the Barton Court Avenue junction and outside seafront shops would remain free for a maximum one hour stay between 9am and 7pm.

A spokesperson for HCC said: “These measures, if approved, will help to manage parking demand in these popular areas, whilst also tackling the issue of overnight parking which has been a cause of long-standing concern for residents. Any revenue generated would cover the cost of implementing the schemes, and also operating, enforcing and maintaining them.”

“The proposed hourly parking charges are likely to be set at levels that match the tariffs that are already in place at nearby car parks under the management of the district council.”

The consultation runs until 15th March. Comments must be made in writing and can be sent to The Castle, Winchester, or submitted online by emailing public.notices@hants.gov.uk