A decision on whether to introduce charges at free car parks will be made this evening.

Councillors will decide whether new tariffs will be implemented at Little Oyster car park in Minster and those at the library and Park Road, both in Queenborough.

Swale council’s community committee will now have the final say on the plans in the meeting due to be held at 7pm in Swale House, in East Street, Sittingbourne.

Its members have been recommended to agree to implement charging at three car parks which are currently free to use.

Business owners, cafe workers, and tourists told KentOnline it would be like “robbery” if fees were brought in, describing it as “penalising people who want to see the sea.”

The Little Oyster and Bosuns tea rooms have both started petitions against the move which would come into place from April 1 this year.

But the council's chief financial officer estimated fees at the free car parks would bring £38,000 in additional revenue to the council, which is facing “extreme challenges” in balancing its books for 2024/25.

The council’s draft budget outlined a budget gap of £1.36m which would be funded from reserves if further savings were not identified.

This comes after a Tory plan to keep the car parks free was scuppered as part of a larger amendment to the council’s budget.

Cllr Bowen, who represents Teynham and Lynsted ward, put forward the changes at a council meeting on Wednesday, February 2, claiming the Labour-led Rainbow Coalition was using car parking as “a cash cow to bolster its spending plans”.

However, the Conservatives’ plans were labelled as “not fiscally sound” by council leader Cllr Tim Gibson (Lab) and were voted down.

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Also being decided on this evening will be an increase in existing charges elsewhere on Sheppey and in Sittingbourne and Faversham.

Sittingbourne High Street traders have hit out against a hike as they fear an extra cost for shoppers will add to their woes after losing big brands Wilkos and Iceland.

Under the plans, an hour’s stay between 7am and 7pm would cost £1.40, with two hours costing £2.80.

It would be £5.60 for up to four hours and any longer than that would be £7.10.

From 7pm to 7am there would be a £3 fixed charge per stay.

However, the committee has been recommended to agree to change the overnight tariff policy.

Currently charges run from 7pm to 7am but the plans will see rates between 7am and 10pm. There would then be no charge to park between 10pm and 7am.