Business owners in Cheriton Place, Folkestone, Kent, are raising concerns after all on-street parking bays were removed on 2 March 2026, a move they fear will severely damage local trade. The parking suspension is expected to last until 24 April 2026 to allow for essential drainage and pavement works. According to Folkestone & Hythe District Council, this is part of a town improvement project that is now more than halfway complete and due to finish in the summer of 2026.
To carry out the work, Bouverie Road West has been closed, requiring Cheriton Place to become a two-way street temporarily. Official Council updates show the street is too narrow to allow for parked cars while traffic moves in both directions. The changes are intended to facilitate necessary infrastructure repairs that have been ongoing in the town centre since last year.
Alexandria Clifford, who owns Wild For Flowers, described the loss of parking as a crippling hit, particularly with Mother’s Day approaching in mid-March. Other local traders, including Natalie Brown of The Sandwich Shop, are worried that delivery drivers and customers will no longer be able to stop outside their businesses. There are also concerns that home care staff and delivery services will struggle to find space to pull up while the restrictions remain in place.
James Butcher, a representative for the council, defended the project as necessary for the long-term economic benefit of the area. He acknowledged the inconvenience but maintained that the works are unavoidable to complete the town’s transformation. However, businesses continue to call for alternative parking solutions or temporary exemptions to help them survive the two-month period of restricted access.
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