Petition to allow classic car enthusiasts to use car park
Almost 1,900 people have signed a petition calling on Chichester District Council to allow a group of classic car enthusiasts to meet up in a Selsey car park.
Manhood Classics were left ‘in limbo’ after being ordered to stop meeting at East Beach Car Park, despite having gathered there on the third Sunday of the month for more than 13 years.
The petition was presented to a meeting of the full council on Tuesday (March 19).
The club was formed by Les Payne and Mick Hemmings in October 2010 and now has almost 400 members.
Mr Payne said the car park was ‘a somewhat underused area for much of the year’.
He added: “We felt [it was] an ideal place to meet, causing no trouble to anyone with our mostly retired group of individuals – we’re not boy racers – paying car parking fees when applicable like everyone else who parks there.”
One letter of support for the group stated: “For the elderly it is one of the occasions to relive their past – for the youth of the day to understand the evolution of mechanical engineering.
“The income to the community and net benefit psychologically is vast.”
Despite the popularity of the meet-ups, council officers – who were unaware they were taking place – had to investigate after receiving a complaint.
Jess Brown-fuller, cabinet member for culture & events, said it was then that officers realised that the council’s events policy – which restricts the use of car parks for anything except parking – needed updating.
Officers will present a draft policy, outlining the types of events and activities that may be considered appropriate for car parks, to a meeting of the cabinet in April.
The council’s legal officer told the meeting that one complaint had kick-started events but further comments had since been received.
He explained that giving out the nature of the complaint – as asked for by the car club in a Freedom of Information request – could lead to the identity of the complainant being revealed.