Campaign to block parking charges

Both sides are due to meet with Department for Transport officers

Protesters have been continuing their campaign to get a new parking charges scheme for a Sussex town abandoned.

Drivers will have to pay to park on the streets of Eastbourne town centre from October, under plans drawn up by East Sussex County Council.

But the Liberal Democrat-led borough council is calling it a "stealth tax".

Representatives canvassed opinion in Eastbourne on Friday, encouraging residents and visitors to sign up to a "No to Pay to Park" petition.

The Conservative county council said it had been consulting on parking charges for the town for nine years in direct response to concerns over congestion.

We've adapted the scheme to what people want Councillor Matthew Lock

Councillor Matthew Lock said the plans were being moved forward, despite opposition, because he was "seeking to try and find a balance".

"We've adapted the scheme to what people want," he added.

But Stephen Lloyd, parliamentary spokesman for the Liberal Democrats in Eastbourne, argued: "It's about democracy. People have said time and time again they simply do not want these charges introduced."

Government permission for the new parking controls was not required, the county council said, but both sides in the argument are due to meet with Department for Transport officers next week.