Councillors warn Gorleston Brush Quay car park charges will 'hurt locals'
People will have to pay £4.50 for a half day stay and £9 for a full day
New car park charges are to come into force in a coastal town in Norfolk which critics say unfairly target locals living nearby.
Conservative-controlled Great Yarmouth Borough Council is introducing fees at Brush Quay car park in Gorleston as part of efforts to boost its finances in order to plug a £2.2m deficit.
The move has been criticised by the Labour opposition group at GYBC as they say the site is predominately used by people living close by, due to insufficient on-street parking in the surrounding roads.
They argue that fees should be introduced at the nearby Cliff Top car park instead.
The opposition group say that this car park, which is used mainly by visitors, would bring in at least £65,000 a year to the council compared to £46,000 from Brush Quay – which is a 25-minute walk away.
At a meeting last week, Jade Martin, Labour councillor for Central and Northgate ward said: “I do not see the logic. We have two options – one is to make residents suffer or the other is to make visitors pay to park at our seaside town.”
Tony Wright, Labour councillor of Nelson Ward, added: “At almost every other coastal car park you have to pay. This would be no different.”
Conservative councillor Paul Wells, cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said fees at Cliff Top car park would not work and worried people would park on Marine Parade instead.
At the meeting, 17 Labour councillors voted in favour of charges being brought in at Cliff Top, while the 18 Conservatives and one Independent voted against it.
Following the decision, people will have to pay £4.50 for a half day stay and £9 for a full day while season tickets will also be offered. It will remain free in the winter months and between 6pm – 9am.
Balancing the books
It is one of many measures brought in as the authority seeks to balance its books, which also includes raising council tax by 4.99pc for Band D properties.
GYBC councillors approved the budget for 2024/2025, which leader Carl Smith said has been one of the hardest he has delivered in his five years as leader.
“Difficult decisions” have had to be made, said Mr Smith, which has included increased charges and cuts in order to stem a forecast £2.2m deficit next year.
The leader is to lobby the government for a fair funding deal for the authority, which has seen a 55pc drop in funding since 2010.
The Labour group at GYBC have welcomed this move.
What else is in the budget?
Council tax is to rise by 4.99pc for Band D properties.
GYBC housing tenants will see rents go up by 7.7pc.
The level of council tax support has been cut from 91.5pc to 80pc, but a £200,000 hardship fund has been set up instead.
The tourism department has been cut from the council and other operational changes have come into effect.
Grants worth £90,285 to parish councils for maintaining parks and open spaces have been cut.
Garden waste bin collection fees are to rise.
A proposed cut to funding for RNLI lifeguards at Great Yarmouth, Gorleston and Hemsby beaches has been put on hold.