SCRAPPING controversial seafront parking charges could see vital services cut including libraries and beach cleaning, a councillor has claimed in a staunch defence of the measures. 

Councillor for public protection Martin Terry has been a keen advocate for the 6pm to 9pm seafront charges since they were introduced earlier this year, despite concerns being raised by businesses. 

Ahead of a debate at a Southend Council meeting next week over a 500-strong petition calling for the charges to be reversed, Mr Terry insisted the extra funding is vital for the council in its bid to balance the books while maintaining services.

Seafront traders, including bosses at the Oyster Creek Kitchen in Western Esplanade, have claimed the seafront is “deserted” in the evening and visitors are put off by the charges. 

Oyster Creek - Jay Beales and Antonia Waite Oyster Creek - Jay Beales and Antonia Waite (Image: Jay Beales)

Mr Terry said: “We have a responsibility to maintain what services we can for the sake of residents. Over the years, city council taxpayers have subsidised our economy and we are rebalancing that.

“We won’t close a local library or reduce beach cleaning or park services and at the same time give discounts to visitors.

"We have to provide extra safety officers and pier officers, beach welfare and all those things are paid for by city taxpayers, we don’t want to cut them, it is quite legitimate for us to acquire revenue for those services with the seafront charges.

“I’d love to make everything free; this is not a reality, and it is not the fault of the council. We are in a tough situation, we had to raise more.”

Defence - Martin Terry Defence - Martin Terry (Image: Martin Terry)

While charges were introduced on the seafront between 6pm and 9pm, parking across the rest of the city was cut by 11.4 per cent. 

Mr Terry added: “What the parking charge does is it provides essential funding to prevent us slicing essential services, in that context, it has been successful.”

However, Oyster Creek Kitchen manager, Jay Beales, believes the impact has been tangible for his business.

He said: “It has been slowly worsening, people come down and see how bad it is. We have had loads of customers come in and complain, the other night, four or five customers didn’t realise about the parking charges and a warden got them. 

“High-parking charges don’t help, almost all our trade is out of Essex.”