Kevin Scott, parking specialist of the organisation, spoke ahead of yesterday's (Tuesday) meeting in Seaford which saw representatives from the county council, Seaford Chamber of Commerce, members of Seaford Town Council and Seaford Residents' Association meet to discuss parking proposals for Seaford.

He said, "The difference between Seaford and Lewes as far as I am aware is that, in Lewes, we (Chamber of Commerce and Residents Groups) asked East Sussex County Council (ESCC) to decriminalise parking and bring in a scheme, whereas I don't believe many people in Seaford have asked for a parking scheme, as the current arrangements are working anyway.

"I have to say that Lewes is disadvantaged by the current scheme, as it is far too complex and too heavily policed. This causes motorists to go elsewhere and this is an advantage for nearby towns like Seaford and Uckfield.

"Therefore one argument is that Lewes should back the introduction of similar schemes across the whole county to create a level playing field and ensure our traders can become competitive again.

"However, two wrongs don't make a right and I am firmly of the opinion that it is not the fact that you have to pay to park in Lewes that is the disadvantage but rather the way the scheme was designed and is enforced. If towns are made into stressful places where you run the gauntlet of heavy parking management we will all lose out to out-of-town shopping centres. Then everyone will have to use a car!"

He added the group was now lobbying ESCC to conduct a thorough review of the unpopular scheme.

Gail Elhinn, chairman of the Seaford Residents' Association, said that she hoped the Seaford scheme would not affect the seafront area which was a popular facility for all.

She added, "I think there are a couple of streets for the parking permits because they have had parking problems. What we don't want is for those streets to get blocked up and more streets are then on permits. These permits are only good for during the day and they don't guarantee you a place.

"We need something in Broad Street, it's terribly congested and there is random parking but I don't think permits are the answer, maybe a time restriction. We also need to encourage people to use the car parks."

In July Seaford residents learned that the project, which would have affected a large part of central Seaford, had been drastically cut and that only five streets would consult with County Hall about the introduction of parking permits.

The five roads are Blatchington Road, Claremont Road, Guardswell Place, High Street and Warwick Road, where homeowners had expressed an interest.

Last week the Gazette reported how a couple in Highlands Road were putting together a petition to be handed over at the meeting.
Resident Bob Gough said he was concerned that any potential extension to double yellow lines in his road would affect residents and mean that visitors to homeowners in that part of the road would have difficulty parking.