Drivers have been informed that they have fewer than sixty days to get ready for new parking fees that will increase the cost of parking for those who drive gasoline and diesel.
It follows a proposal by the East Sussex County Council to raise parking fees on the street based on vehicle emissions.
Drivers will be subject to different tariffs based on their location and duration of stay when the amendments take effect on April 2, 2025.
The cost of business, visitor, and resident permits—which include discounts for low-emission vehicles and drivers with disabilities—will increase in addition to the hourly wage.
The permit hikes will see higher polluting vehicles pay from £7 for Blue Badge holders and as much as £140 a year while lower-emitting vehicles will pay substantially less at just £17 a year.
The price of business permits will also see an increase with owners of low emission vehicles paying less than those with higher emissions. The cost of a business permit will increase from between £154 and £590 per year depending on the emissions output.
Permits for businesses with electric vehicles will see costs increase at a much lesser rate with rises going up from £108 to £140 for a 12-month period.
Meanwhile, there will be an increase in charges for on-street parking, which would range from 70p to £2.70 per hour depending on the location.
A spokesperson for East Sussex County Council said: "When the county council took over responsibility for on-street parking in Rother in 2020, charges were set at a lower level and have not changed significantly since. This reduces the influence the charges have on travel choices."
The council explained that the charges for petrol and diesel vehicles would primarily aim to improve air quality in the region, but the move has already been met with mixed responses.
One person shared: "If you make parking more expensive, who is going to come to Eastbourne, when you can shop at The Crumbles for free? Eastbourne needs more visitors, not fewer."
Another person claimed they would stop coming to Eastbourne altogether during the day as the car parking charges are "crazy". "I’d love to get a job in the town centre also but there’s nowhere you can realistically park all day in town any longer," they said.
Councillor Claire Dowling explained that charging for parking helps manage the demand in the region while also reducing congestion, which "has a positive impact on the local economy as well as air quality".
She said: "When the county council took over responsibility for on-street parking in Rother in 2020, charges were set at a lower level which have not changed significantly since."
At a recent council meeting, Councillor Ian Hollidge questioned how increasing prices for residents would create sustainable transport.
He queried what evidence there was to prove this occurred in Lewes, Hastings or Eastbourne and what evidence is there that Rother has an air quality problem, "which can be addressed by increasing fees".
Hollidge warned: "These price increases will affect Bexhill most, these are above inflation increases, and it is justified by equating [prices] with Lewes, Eastbourne and Hastings.
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