On street parking and the cost of permits will both increase in Rye if proposals gain the go ahead from a senior county councillor next week. On Monday October 14 Cllr Claire Dowling, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for transport and environment, is set to decide whether the authority should start consultation on raising the charges.
Under the proposals, the cost of a two-hour ticket for on street parking in Rye would increase from 90p to £1.35. There would also be a major overhaul of permit parking prices which ESCC says is "intended to incentivise sustainable forms of transport”.
In the report, a council spokesman said: "The consultation will look to better understand whether these proposed changes will encourage drivers to use sustainable forms of transport and / or to use vehicles that emit lower levels of pollutants. The feedback received through the consultation process will be presented alongside an Equalities Impact Assessment, to inform the lead member’s final decisions about the proposals.”
The potential increases come after a number of parking meters were removed from Rye, including Tower Street and Cinque Ports Street. ESCC say £30,000 will be saved as fewer motorists are paying at the machines, using apps instead.
The proposals include changes to the costs associated with residents’ parking permits, which allow for day time parking (mostly between 8am and 6pm) in the seven permit zones in the Rother District, two of which are in Rye. Currently, the council charges a flat rate for parking permits in Rother. It costs £10 for a three-month permit, £17 for a six-month permit and £27 for a 12-month permit.
The council is proposing to introduce a new scheme, which takes into account the C02 emissions of the vehicles tied to the permit. This new scheme could significantly increase costs for many permit holders.
Only those with very low emissions (emitting 100g/km or less of CO2) would pay less than a current permit holder, with a 12-month permit costing just £17 for such vehicles. Vehicles with emissions above this would pay at least £60 for a 12-month permit. The top end costs of a 12-month permit would rise to £103, although this would only apply to vehicles which emit more than 185g/km of C02.
Costs for business permits, visitor permits and second vehicles would also increase under the proposed scheme.
Emissions-based costs would not apply to disabled parking permits, however, which would be set at a flat rate of £7 for 12-months.
