Traders oppose pay parking

The suggestion from Wealden District Council - as one way of bridging a gap in its budget for the next financial year - has attracted widespread opposition throughout the district.

Francis Wallace, of solicitors Rix & Kay who is chairman of the

Uckfield Chamber of Commerce, said: 'The chamber has always opposed car parking charges for the simple reason that when people make a choice as to where to shop, one of the great competitive advantages that Uckfield and other Wealden towns have is parking.

'They may not have huge shopping centres like Brighton and Tunbridge Wells but they do have free parking that causes car-users no hassle.

'Take that away and a lot of people will go to larger destinations.'

Mr Wallace continued: 'Wealden's argument - which they have used before - that they have to charge for parking to optimise their revenue ignores the fact that it is commercial organisations paying the full business rate that are their principal source of revenue.

'Parking charges could easily see retailers going to the wall and the apperance of more charity shops who of course do not pay full rates.

'The chamber does not accept that the council has to impose parking charges on budgetary grounds. That has always been our position and we can't see any attraction to our members.'

Uckfield businesses have pointed to the experience of Lewes, where they say that zealous parking wardens and restrictions for on and off-street parking have damaged the local economy.

Critics of the district council say that the proposal is a chestnut and has been visited three times before.

*The overall feeling among Uckfield town councillors is that no parking charges should be introduced and that will be reflected in their response to the district council's budget consultation.