Whitstable herne bay

to parking charges have sparked fears tourists could be discouraged from visiting coastal towns - while residents could be put off shopping there.

Councillors are proposing to hike tariffs at Whitstable’s most popular car parks Gorrell Tank and Keams Yard - from £2.50 an hour in the summer months to £3.10 in 2023.

It would mean visitors spending eight hours in the town having to fork out almost £25 for their stay.

The picture is similar in Herne Bay, where popular car parks at Neptune’s Arm, Reculver Towers and Reculver Country Park will rise from £1.90 in summer months to £2.30 in 2023.

Mary Jane Higginson, owner of Buttercup toy shop in Whitstable’s Harbour Street, says she “will lose customers” if the changes are made.

She said: “It’s very disappointing to hear that the council are doing something which will hinder shopping in the towns.

“In Whitstable we’ve had a difficult time trying to keep our businesses going. I definitely don’t welcome higher parking charges in the town.”

Ms Higginson fears the higher tariffs could mean people spend less time in the town, which lacks park and ride facilities.

“We have a small shop so I limit the amount of people coming in, because of the pandemic,” she said.

“People do have to wait sometimes, so if they’re thinking about getting back to a car because charges are so high I definitely will lose customers.

“Parking is difficult in Whitstable anyway, so we need all the help we can to help shops and people visiting the town.”

But responding to fears higher charges will drive away customers, Mr Carmichael says he has faith in “the enormous amount of interest there is from summer visitors, particularly in Whitstable but also Herne Bay”.

“That’s why very deliberately this is a summer increase and we’re not doing the same in the winter,” he added.

“The evidence doesn’t show that we put people off by this kind of charging.

“Just thinking about last summer the amount of activity we had in Whitstable despite the charging, with people coming to the district from all over the place, shows that it’s an incredibly popular town.”