BUSINESS leaders are furious over proposals to “tax” seafront visitors as part of a new drive to ease congestion in Southend.

Southend Council is accused of profiteering with a ‘variable tariff’ plan which could set parking charges based on how popular a car park is on a particular day.

This could mean seafront car parks cost more, while outlying car parks in areas like Victoria Avenue could be cheaper.

However, seafront trader Paul Thompson said: “They think that by putting prices up people will park at the cheaper car parks like the Civic Centre which is further from the seafront but that doesn’t work.

“People will just choose not to go to Southend or they’ll just pay the higher charge. It’s a tax on people coming to the seafront.

“They are taking extra money for parking and it’s a deterrent for people visiting Southend.

“If they put more spaces there they’d get far more money from revenue but they are desperate not to do it.”

Philip Miller, executive chairman of the Stockvale Group, which owns businesses including Adventure Island, added: “Has Southend Council spoken with the business community? No. Have they spoken with public service users? No. How about taxi drivers?

“If there is one group of people that suffer with congestion and would have practical solutions I would bet my bottom dollar on it being the drivers, along with the people that actually live and breathe the town – who together could have produced something that actually would work and allow for growth.

“Why not start with asking these stakeholders and build the plan from there?

“There is no mention of expanding the volume of parking and reducing prices to encourage trade.

“Let’s face it, Southend Council’s track record when it comes to improving the town stinks. This latest idea comes after the last one that had everyone up-in-arms, that of a minimum two-hour parking fee.”

Andrew Moring, Tory councillor for infrastructure, said the proposals were put forward by independent experts and a consultation would be launched.

He added: “The council is considering them and will consult with businesses and the public before any final decision is taken.

“Though we are at very early stages, what we envisage is a way of using real-time parking information to make better use of the council’s overall parking capacity by incentivising parking in lesser-used car parks on any given day.

“We want to consider the potential of technology for influencing where people choose to park, to improve both congestion and air pollution in our town.”