Angry drivers say they won't pay to use a pothole-ridden seafront car park after a council confirmed it is considering reintroducing fees.

Borrow Pit car park in Walmer is currently free to use and is popular with dog walkers, fishermen and visitors to nearby popular Walmer Castle.

But later this year, Dover District Council (DDC), which owns the facility along Kingsdown Road, is to review whether charges should be reintroduced as part of its parking strategy.

Two years ago, the authority brought in fees at the 120-space site through mobile app RingGo, but they were quickly withdrawn following a backlash from motorists.

Those who use the car park now fear charging people will only drive visitors away and make parking harder on nearby roads outside people’s homes.

Colin Kent, who visits the car park most days, says he would park elsewhere if he had to pay at the site, which features an unmade surface blighted by a number of potholes.

The 75-year-old said: “I have used the car park for a couple of years now, it is somewhere out the way where I can sit and read my paper without someone bothering me.

“Sometimes I go for a walk along the path but I wouldn't park here if I had to pay, I would park on the street instead.

“I don't think it would be as well used if you had to pay. It would be a loss for the community.”

Helen Baughan, who visits most mornings to walk her dog Maya, agreed, saying: “I'm not paying for it after all these years of it being free.

“This is a beautiful area, I'm up here most weathers.

“I don't live in Deal but I drive here every morning to do this walk. I chose to come here because I love Deal and I like the sea. I would find somewhere else to walk or I would park on the road.

“It would make it awful for all the people who live around here.

“This is never absolutely packed, so it's not like they would gain a huge amount of money anyway.”

Husband and wife Lin and Roger Barratt, who were visiting from Barham, said introducing charges would be “a real shame”.

Mr Barrett, 79 said: “We come once a month or so because we are members of the castle.

“We can't park at the castle today because it has been raining and the car park is flooded.

“The other two are full so this is our only option.

“A free car park is something rare these days. If we had to use an app, that would be goodbye, we wouldn’t come here at all.”

Mrs Barratt added: “This car park is a godsend because we can go to the castle, have a coffee then walk all the way into Deal, it's a lovely walk.

“We would miss this car park and it would be a shame for the town which has lovely independent shops.”

When the seasonal car park at Walmer Castle is closed like it has been recently due to flooding, visitors to the attraction are forced to park elsewhere.

Dozens of cars were recently left along Kingsdown Road, on a stretch without a pavement, forcing people to brave a “perilous” walk along a busy road.

But Steve Long, who often visits from Dover to walk dogs Bart and Poppy, says he wouldn’t mind paying if it helped with maintenance costs.

The 64-year-old said: “If they need to maintain the car park they will need to make some revenue.

“It's nice having free parking because we walk over here quite a lot, but as long as prices were not extortionate, I would still park here.

“We would rather it be free, but we understand they need to maintain it.”

A spokesperson for Walmer Town Council said the authority “strongly opposes” the potential reintroduction of charges at Borrow Pit.

“DDC’s trial two years ago was short-lived as it increased traffic congestion with people choosing to park on the road rather than pay to park in the car park,” they said.

“This reduced sightlines, narrowed the roadway and created a need for a safe crossing space.

“DDC has stated a goal of reducing congestion in the centre of towns.

“Charges on car parks outside of the town centre will only work to counter this aim, as it removes any incentive to park outside of town and walk.

“In terms of an update DDC's cabinet met on January 15 to discuss the issue.

“The decision was to defer the item of charges for parking at Borrow Pit car park until the strategic review had been carried out later in the year.”

A DDC spokesman confirmed the reintroduction of charges is being considered.

“There will be a parking strategy review for the whole district taking place later this year,” they said.

“The possibility of charging within Borrow Pit car park will be one of the items considered within the strategy.”