Anti-Parking protesters are putting a town's

chance of a £5.5 million windfall at risk, says a

council leader.

Coun Bert Leggett, of Eastbourne Borough Council, launched a scathing attack on them last night.

He said their campaign against pay and display parking in the town centre was "very odd" and "totally irresponsible".

His angry comments came as the council's new cabinet committee agreed a provisional transport plan for Eastbourne which includes a range of road and public transport improvements over the next five years.

Mr Leggett said: "I would like to make it clear that at this point there is no firm parking plan. Parking is not included in the draft Eastbourne Urban Area Local Transport Plan and nothing has been decided.

"Campaigning at this stage strikes me as very odd and totally irresponsible. It could put in jeopardy the £5.5 million Eastbourne people stand to gain for transport in this town.

"Eastbourne has a lot at stake here and this is not something I want to see thrown away because of irresponsibility."

Hoteliers and traders are already threatening to march on the town hall in a bid to stop a pay and display parking scheme they say will kill tourism. It would replace the current free parking in the town centre.

Campaigners have vowed to keep up the pressure on the authority.

David Elkin, chairman of Eastbourne Hotels'

Association and one of the leading campaigners, said: "We would not want to threaten any finance coming into Eastbourne but at what cost will it be?

"The amount of money they will be getting will be far outweighed by the damage it will cause to Eastbourne. Our campaign will continue. In fact, it's only just beginning."

The council admits a parking review is to be carried out as part of its transport plan but refuses to confirm whether it will scrap free on-street

parking in favour of a pay system.

Consultations with traders, hotels, other councils, charities and transport groups are still taking place before

councillors submit the completed transport plan to the Government next July.

If approved, the council will seek £5.5 million of Government funds to pay for bus and cycle lanes, a new town centre ring-road and making roads near schools safer for children.

Motorists will be encouraged to leave cars at home and use an improved public transport system.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.