An appeal to introduce one hour free on-street parking in Birchington to give a boost to local traders has been made by village councillor Phil Fellows.
Speaking at a full council meeting this week, Cllr Fellows said: “At a time when our local traders are struggling with rising costs due to things like national insurance rises, falling footfall and an increasingly difficult trading environment, I’m sure everyone will agree that this council should be doing everything within its power to support our high streets rather than making it harder for people to shop locally.
“In Birchington we have always felt that it’s an anomaly that we have to pay to park when in nearby Westgate they don’t.
“Will the cabinet member therefore commit to urgently investigating the introduction of at least one hour of free on street parking and reducing the charges in our council car parks in Birchington, or at least some meaningful parking concessions to encourage people to use our village shops and give our local businesses a much-needed boost?”
Cabinet member for parking, Cllr Kristian Bright said he agreed ‘times are tough’ with people shopping online, having less disposable income, economic stagnation caused by ‘austerity, Brexit, covid’ and rising costs from ‘war in Ukraine and Iran’ as well as the impact of National Insurance rises on businesses.
He added: “I really want to see Birchington, and indeed all our high streets, thrive, and we committed to a review of all fees and charges as part of the parking strategy we adopted in December 2024. Whether its zoning, signage or fees and charges, the whole purpose of the strategy is, yes, to manage traffic flow and point people in the right direction but also to encourage people to be where we want them to be, and that’ is shopping on our high streets and driving a local, year-round economy.”
However Cllr Bright said one hour of free parking was unlikely to happen although work on fees and charges would mean shopping locally would ‘make sense for residents.’
Cllr Fellows said that gave him ‘nothing’ to take back to traders and questioned when some practical action would be seen.
Cllr Bright said fees and charges decisions have to be made at the council’s annual budget, which is coming up, and that is when changes would be implemented.
Thanet District Council sets and approves its annual budget in February before its is implemented in April.
Westgate has one hour free parking in Station Road and St Mildreds Road, near the main shopping area.
There is also free Saturday parking at Ramsgate: Cannon Road Car Park, Margate: Mill Lane Car Park, Broadstairs: St Peter’s Park Road Car Park and Cliftonville: Harold Road Car Park. There is no designated free, Saturday parking for Birchington or Westgate
Parking in Birchington’s Station Road starts at 10 minutes for 50p and then a linear-step charge in 10-minute sessions up to a maximum charge of £6 for two hours stay – equating to £3 per hour.
After the meeting, Cllr Fellows said: “For years we have lobbied for some kind of concession on parking in Birchington as we feel the parking charges are unfair.
“It’s time that something was done with the difficult trading conditions all shop owners are under. Hopefully we will be able to see some kind of a reduction soon.”
