A parking war has broken out in Great Yarmouth after controversial plans to impose all year round fees along the seafront were discussed at a heated meeting.
Currently on-street parking charges run throughout the holiday season from April 1 until September 30 at Marine Parade, North Drive and South Beach Parade.
Under controversial proposals, charges for pay and display would be demanded all year round by the Norfolk Parking Partnership (NPP) which is led by the county council, despite protests from Great Yarmouth Borough Council and tourism bosses.
MORE: Shake-up in Norfolk's parking enforcementNow the borough council will seek legal advice to clarify its position.
Under proposals being put forward by the Norfolk Parking Partnership joint committee, fees for on-street parking could be extended to the winter and also into the summer evenings, which the committee said was necessary to pay for the county-wide parking initiative.
In a rare moment of unity the party political leaders at borough level have joined together to condemn the move.
A joint letter states: 'Great Yarmouth is seen as a largely seasonal economy and we are working hard to change that perception and the introduction of winter charging on street will be totally detrimental to this.'
At a meeting of the borough's policy and resources committee its chairman, council leader Graham Plant, said: 'We are being asked to be the cash cow to take more funding from visitors and residents when we know there are market towns that refuse to have any kind of pay and display because it would damage their businesses.'
The borough's chief executive Shelia Oxtoby said: 'Great Yarmouth is paying for everyone else's parking in the county and is the only authority making a parking surplus.'
Project manager at the Greater Yarmouth Tourism BID Karen Young said more than 30 of its members had written to the county council to express their concerns.
The NPP has been told the county's Civil Parking Enforcement scheme was facing unsustainable and increasing losses unless changes could be made and efficiencies identified.
What do you think of the parking plans? Email george.ryan@archant.co.uk
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