A controlled Parking scheme could sound the death knell for businesses, say traders.

More than 400 objections were received by East Sussex County Council in response to the scheme planned for Lewes.

Drivers will face strict parking restrictions, similar to those in parts of Brighton and Hove, when the scheme starts on September 20.

The town will be converted into a controlled parking zone in which people will have to pay for all on and off-street parking.

Car parks will be split into short and long-stay spaces and permits will be required to park in residential streets around the town centre.

This is good news for shoppers and residents, says Lewes Chamber of Commerce, but a disaster for local workers, who will have to pay between £1 and £12 a day to park.

Workers currently park free or for a small charge in residential streets and largely unregulated town centre car parks. This leaves shoppers and local homeowners struggling to find spaces.

Under the new scheme, which is a result of a three-year consultation between Lewes District Council, East Sussex County Council and local business people and residents, charges will apply for these parking spaces.

Lewes's single traffic warden will be replaced by eight parking attendants working for NCP, which won the tender to run the new system last January.

Kevin Scott, parking spokesman for Lewes Chamber of Commerce, which represents more then 200 businesses in the town, said commuters would be hit hard.

He said: "There is no public transport available into Lewes from many nearby towns so a lot of commuters have to come in by car. They are used to paying nothing and finding a space easily.

"People that don't manage to find cheap spaces or can't get a permit will suffer from very high charges which they will not be able to afford for long.

"The new scheme is going to drive workers out of Lewes."

David Quinn, president of the chamber, said: "The problem is there is not enough parking in Lewes. We desperately need a multi-storey car park, which has been promised by the council for 25 years but never materialised."

Solicitor Iris Jackson will be affected by the new scheme. She said: "It is difficult enough recruiting as it is. These new regulations will be a huge deterrent to new staff as well as our clients.

"I am worried Lewes will be turned into a resort town as many businesses may be forced to relocate."

The county council says the objections are unfair.

Travel plan officer Brian Deval said: "We have consulted with local businesses throughout the creation of this scheme.

"We responded to their objections by cutting the price of a trader's permit from £1,000 to £500 and creating more long-stay spaces.

"Parking charges will increase the farther into the town centre you get but there will be plenty of cheap parking ten or 15 minutes away.

"We have also improved local transport links.

"These things are never perfect but we will have a continuous review process.

"If we find that there is not enough parking for traders we will rectify that."

Thursday August 19, 2004