Calls for reduced fees at Ship on Shore car park in Marine Parade, Sheerness

There are calls for charges at a revamped car park to be slashed because the surrounding area doesn’t offer much to visitors.

People living in Marine Parade, Sheerness, say they’re delighted with the work which has been done opposite the Ship on Shore pub.

But they feel £1.40 an hour is too steep a price when the only nearby attraction is the beach which is only popular during decent weather.

As previously reported, Swale council spent £68,910 resurfacing the 48-space car park after it became virtually unusable with potholes and dumped vehicles.

Now, six months after it re-opened, locals say its underused because people don’t want to pay the fees at the previously free facility.

Matt, 53, and Pauline, 51, who did not want to share their full names, feel things need to change.

She said: “If you are asking people to pay £1.40 an hour you have to offer them something.

“But it’s not in the heart of town and in the High Street half of the shops are boarded up so why would people pay that amount?

“If the fees were reduced then people would use it more as at the moment it’s not busy unless the yacht club use it or it’s a hot day.

“We are glad they have put the money into the car park because it was an eye-sore before.”

It costs 70p for half an hour’s stay, £1.40 for an hour, £2.80 for two hours, £5.60 for four hours and a whole day stay its a £7.10 charge.

A Freedom of Information request submitted by KentOnline revealed from when it reopened up until September 15, it raked in £5,454.50 from 2,181 visits. This works out as 11 a day on average.

The busiest period was in August with 593 which brought in £1,547.50 – 19 transactions a day on average.

Meanwhile, the quietest period was March when there were on average five transactions a day – 165 in total – which added £304.60 to the council’s coffers.

These rates are some of the cheapest in the county with only Maidstone, Ashford and Dartford councils charging less – £1.35, £1.30 and £1 respectively.

Leyla Saruhan, who has lived in Marine Parade for 32 years, says while the car park needed the work it has “caused problems” because of on-street parking.

The 53-year-old said: “People are now parking on the main road instead of in the car park so cars are having to swerve in between the cars.

“It could be a good idea to introduce double yellow lines on the road it could stop that issue.”

A 71-year-old neighbour, who also did not want to be named, said: “It’s a good thing the council has introduced charges and re-surfaced the car park because it has stopped people dumping there as well as people living there.

“However, it is less used on weekdays than it used to be.”

Cllr Dolley Wooster, who chairs Sheerness Town council, says the car park “isn’t being made the most of”.

She said: “There is an issue in terms of how well-used it is but one way of making it busier would be to have it become a free drop-off point for the local schools.

“There would also need to be a proper crossing for kids so they can walk down Marine Parade.

“But there should have been discussions between the new schools [Leigh Academy and EKC Sheppey College] about this idea and that could have been incorporated with Kent County Council.”

Cllr Elliot Jayes (Swale Inds), who represents Sheppey Central on Swale council, says there should be a review of the charges when more data has been collected.

He said: “There should be different prices in our out-of-town car parks and it is something the council will decide on after it has a year’s worth of data.

“Local councillors pushed for the car park to be improved as it was used to vehicle dumping and people staying in caravans.”

Cllr Richard Palmer, chairman of the council’s community and leisure committee, responded to the feedback.

He said: “The car park was refurbished because the surface was poor, attracted abandoned vehicles and all added up to being an eyesore.

“It now provides better-quality off-street parking for residents and visitors to the local area.

“The pricing is consistent with our other parking facilities and continues to offer good value for money and access to our beautiful coastline.

“Like many councils it is increasingly difficult to balance our books so tariffs need to be considered each year, as part of our fees and charges process, to make sure we can continue delivering the services our residents rely on.

“However, we have a process for looking into resident parking schemes and are exploring alternative options.”