New Milton Town Council backs Barton residents and traders objecting to ‘abhorrent” plans by Hampshire County Council to charge for on-street parking on Marine Drive East and Marine Drive West on Barton clifftop

NEW Milton councillors are backing traders and residents opposing “abhorrent” plans to charge for on-street parking on Barton clifftop.

As reported in the A&T, Hampshire County Council is proposing charging for parking along Marine Drive East and Marine Drive West between 10am and 6pm.

Since a huge backlash from residents and traders forced planners to go back to the drawing board, they have added some free two-hour parking zones.

A number of spaces close to the Barton Court Avenue junction and outside seafront shops would remain free for this period between 10am and 6pm.

Additional free two-hour parking spaces have been added to the amended plans outside the Beachcomber café and the Cliff House restaurant.

A season ticket was also added to the proposal, costing £194 per month, £438 for three months or £1,168 for a year.

The town council’s response to the public consultation, which runs until Friday 13th December, was discussed by its planning and finance and general purposes committees.

As well as writing to local county councillors Fran Carpenter and Mel Kendal, Cllr Robert Maynard had conducted a straw poll at the clifftop.

He said that out of 50 people he questioned, including employers and employees of affected businesses, only three supported the proposals.

One of the main issues raised was they were felt to be “overly restrictive” and a “hugely disproportionate response” to residents’ calls to combat overnight parking by campervans.

Speaking to the A&T, Cllr Alan O’ Sullivan had previously called this “a sledgehammer to crack a nut”.

“All that is required is a sign saying ‘no campervans overnight’ which was the residents’ original suggestion,” he said.

Cllr Maynard’s poll also found people felt HCC was pursuing a goal of “modernising” the on-street parking ‘facility’ without fully considering the impact on visitors and residents.

Restricting free access to the “iconic” landscape was cited as particularly harmful to those struggling financially and potentially mentally due to their situation.

This was slammed as “abhorrent”, as was detrimentally affecting those with reduced mobility who rely on their car to view the seascape as part of their general wellbeing.

Town councillors agreed a strong objection should be sent to HCC, branding the plans "totally unacceptable”.

Cllrs Steve Clarke and Geoff Blunden called for the objection letter to stress all that was needed was a traffic order and sign forbidding overnight parking.

“There is strong community concern that this is yet another overreaction [by Hampshire County Council],” Cllr Clarke commented.

Cllr Maynard told the A&T: “While some residents dislike the overnight parking of campervans, they would much rather tolerate that than see the clifftop transformed into a pay-to-visit zone cluttered with machines and enforcement officers.

“The current system, while not perfect, has worked effectively for over 50 years. There’s no congestion or parking turnover issue in this area that warrants such drastic measures.

“These proposals represent a step backward and an infringement on people’s freedom of movement. Hampshire County Council must understand that this is not progress.”

He added: “Let’s leave the clifftop as it is: open, accessible, and welcoming to all. This is a place for people, for nature, and for community—not for machines, enforcement, or profit.”

Malcolm Barry, owner of the Beachcomber, previously said he was “extremely disappointed” by the latest plans.

He told the A&T: “As a family-run business that has been trading since 1989 and residents of Barton, we cannot reiterate enough the severe effect these parking restrictions will have on our business, our staff and the local community.”

He commented the prospect of £8 daily parking would force staff to park on set-back roads, adding to congestion.

Comments on the scheme must be received by Friday 13th December and can be emailed to public.notices@hants.gov.uk