People in Sittingbourne, Kent, are preparing to challenge the local council over new parking fees following reports that internal council projections show a projected £28,000 shortfall over 24 months linked to the changes. The dispute comes after residents and business owners said the higher costs have driven shoppers away from the town centre since the charges were introduced in late 2025.
Internal council projections made available to local campaigners indicate the higher fees have not raised the revenue officials originally forecast. The documents project the £28,000 shortfall over the next two years but do not yet definitively attribute the gap to reduced usage rather than increased administration or enforcement costs.
Local business owners report a drop in weekend trade, particularly in town-centre car parks such as the Forum and Bourne Place; local reports also list Staceys Street among affected locations. Many residents have expressed frustration that the new evening and Sunday charges make it harder to support local shops compared with out-of-town retail parks that offer free parking.
Local reporting, says community groups are coordinating a mass presence at an Extraordinary Council meeting on February 11, 2026. Organisers hope to pressure officials into reversing the charges, which they say are penalising both workers and shoppers.
The council says the price changes were introduced as part of the 2025 Parking Strategy to help address budget pressures and support essential services such as waste collection and social care. A Swale Borough Council spokesperson said the authority is monitoring the impact of the charges and will review the first-year data in full before considering any adjustments to the parking strategy.
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