Claremont Pier has joined Lowestoft councillors in criticising East Suffolk Council’s decision to double seafront parking charges as of April, stating the proposal is “a terrible idea.” 

The authority voted to increase the price of ten hours’ parking from £5 to £10 in January, but the plans have since been challenged by
both Labour and Conservative representatives.

“As a business that relies on public car parks along the seafront, I think this is a terrible idea,” said a pier spokesperson. “Spending all that money on regeneration projects to then charge £10 for parking so no one comes to the seafront. Is the council’s goal to destroy businesses?”

Following the vote, Conservative councillor Mark Jepson and Labour councillor Alan Green formally called in the decision, the first since the authority’s inception.

“We are supposed to be a coastal town,” said Green. “We are building the new cultural centre and new beach huts on the beach and I don’t think hiking seasonal charges to that extent is going to encourage visitors to come.” 

The objection was backed by Aldeburgh Town Council representative Sara Fox, who said “with increased seasonal charges, the residential side streets, already affected by those avoiding paying for car parking, would become more congested and hazardous.”

Felixstowe Town Council’s David Rowe added “the way this decision was taken falls short of the transparency and openness expected in decisions that impact our communities so profoundly.”