Pay-to-park scheme for town centre?

Meters, such as those in operation at Hastings, could become a familiar sight in Bexhill.

It will happen if Rother council is forced to 'de-criminalise' parking.

Such a move would see Rother take over responsibility for parking enforcement from the police.

That could lead to on-street charges and the employment of wardens.

Meanwhile big increases are planned for De La Warr Pavilion parking.

Council leader, Graham Gubby, told the cabinet this week the council may be forced to take action, despite valuing its position as, "one of the only local authorities with free on-street parking."

The revelation that decriminalisation is being considered came only days after worried traders met town MP Greg Barker because of the effect they say parking is having on trade (see page 5).

Decriminalisation is one possibility being considered by the cash-strapped council that is being threatened with capping by central government, after proposing to increase Council Tax by 9.8 per cent.

Only a week before, the Rother cabinet had considered a range of increased charges for its off-street car parks. The threat of capping saw the Rother leader successfully propose still higher charges at Monday's cabinet meeting.

The De La Warr Pavilion is just one place to be hit with the revised parking charges that will come into force on April 1. The new charges will be:

* 60p increased to 70p for a stay of up to one hour.

* 90p increased to 1.50 for one to two hours.

* 1.90 increased to 2.00 for two to four hours.

* 3.00 increased to 5.00 for over four hours.

Vehicle owners who park in Eversley Road will face similar changes in the cost of parking. The changes are:

* 90p increased to 1.00 for a stay of up to one hour.

* 1.00 increased to 1.50 for one to two hours.

* 1.90 increased to 2.00 for two to four hours

* 3.00 increased to 5.00 for over four hours.

Among traders concerned about town centre parking is Tony Barraclough, of opticians Barraclough and Stiles.

He said: "There has got to be a balance, in that parking charges may have to be there but I would not really want to see parking meters in the town."