A YOUTH group will have to wait months for a resolution to a parking crisis costing them hundreds of pounds a month.

Council officers have told Brighton Sea Cadets they will have to wait until October for a solution to a current parking problem at their Brewer Street premises.

The group’s volunteers have been left to pay up to £2,500 a year in parking tickets after their hall was included in a new parking scheme.

Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, who has been campaigning on behalf of the group, said the failure of the council to solve the problem had left him “very frustrated and angry”.

He said the council had turned a “simple administrative matter” into a “bureaucratic nightmare”.

Sea cadet volunteers have been forced to either pay to park by the group’s headquarters since the introduction of the Lewes Road Triangle parking zone last year.

Organisers have said that the current circumstances were putting the future of the 80-year-old organisation at risk after they were refused permits because they did not qualify as either businesses or residents.

When Coun Theobald raised the issue at the end of last year, it was hoped that a quick solution could be found by next week’s environment, transport and sustainability committee meeting.

Instead council officers have said the issue will only be resolved as part of a full review of all parking permit policies which is expected to be discussed in October.

Officers said they had considered issuing temporary permits to the Sea Cadets but it was decided this would not be a fair and consistent approach to all voluntary groups.

The report to be discussed next week states that each charitable organisation had its own unique parking needs as opposed to groups with similar requirements, such as school, trader or hotel guest permit holders.

Two further charitable groups have requested permits and will also have to wait until October for a response.

Coun Theobald said: “The committee agreed with me at its last meeting that the issue for the Sea Cadets should be resolved as soon as possible.

“The council even sent out parking permits to the Sea Cadets only to demand them back again days later.

“It’s a farce and really is not good enough.”

Sea Cadet chairwoman Clare Jackson said: “Perhaps the council could advise local voluntary groups as to how they should raise the additional monies required to pay for parking whilst they procrastinate over what to do.

“Obviously the contribution made to the city by voluntary groups is not considered beneficial by the council and not worth their support.”