Calls are being made to introduce parking restrictions along a busy seaside road in order to stop cars being left there all day.

More than two-thirds of those quizzed said they would support a two-hour time limit along The Strand in Walmer, near Deal.

The results were revealed in a survey carried out by Walmer Town Council.

Currently, The Strand has no parking restrictions on the Dover-bound side of the road but a one-hour time limit exists on the other side where the shops are.

Of the nearly 300 people questioned, a total 201 people agreed there should be a two-hour restriction on both sides of the road, although 83 opposed that.

Walmer resident Haydn Hill told KentOnline: “It would stop people parking all day and would give people the chance to use the shops.”

Lucy Knowles, who runs The Pet Food Shop Walmer, agreed but said it could only work if it was enforced - as the current one-hour limit is not.

She said: “We’ve got an hour limit already and it is not enforced.

“Very rarely do we have people patrolling and checking on cars.

“So in the summer, with people visiting, they leave their car on the one-hour limit side all day long and they don’t get a ticket.

“So that can have a massive effect on our business.”

But resident Jan Butler said: “The problem with a two-hour limit is that it is not long enough for people to come down and enjoy the beach.”

The town council carried out the study after hearing of locals’ complaints of problems such as insufficient parking in some places, such as for blocks of flats or at the reailway station, which can be "overrun with parked cars".

Additionally, the survey revealed most residents are against the introduction of parking permits in the town.

Walmer does not have any yet, but of those asked, 189 were against resident parking permits and 101 were for.

Mr Hill added: “Permits might be a good idea because we live here and pay council tax and holidaymakers come down, take spaces and we can’t park anywhere.”

The study also showed that 161 respondents agreed to increasing electric vehicle charging points but 116 were against.

Finally, 281 favoured developing facilities for campervans and 70 were against.

The survey report was presented to the council’s amenity and environment committee, which voted to pass the findings to Dover District Council (DDC) for consideration, as it is the authority with powers on this issue.

Town clerk Richard Styles said in a report to councillors: “There are some areas in Walmer where parking is an issue.

“If further development within the (Dover District) Local Plan is contemplated near these areas it would be unwise for DDC to listen to the blandishments of developers, who might seek to minimise the impact of their development on local parking capacity.”

The report adds that if DDC is considering residential permits in some areas it should stress the likely annual cost to householders and only do it after careful analysis of a consultation.

Despite so many against increasing EV charging, the report warned: “The EV revolution is ongoing and by 2030 fossil-fuelled cars would not be sold in the UK.”