Permit parking is definitely coming to Folkestone.

Shepway District Council’s cabinet voted to adopt the plan drawn up by officers and Cllr Malcolm Dearden, with a few fine details to be ironed out in the coming months.

The period of operation will run from 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, with certain exceptions, such as The Bayle and more central zones, which will have extended hours and include weekends.

Homes in charging zones, which stretch from Earl’s Avenue, down the Sandgate Road to the Bayle and around Folkestone Central railway station, will have to pay £25 for a permit to park outside their homes. Those without permits, such as office workers and shoppers, will need to park in car parks, or hope their business pays for a pass. Car park passes are also available and currently cost £375 for a year – however that may change in the light of the permit scheme.

Cllr Dearden admitted that the scheme had not been welcomed in all quarters, particularly in the light of the credit crunch, but said that most residential areas had been asking for a permit scheme. In fact the Bayle residents’ association wanted their area to be extended down Rendezvous Street [as it has] and had suggested charges themselves.

Cllr Dearden added: “If you are going to have a successful park and ride scheme you are onlu going to have that if you have parking controls. People want to be able to park in the area they live and we have to have a parking shceme. We are making a decision today to allow the town to develop and to move on...the implementation of the scheme is going to be crucial to the reputation of this council.”

There were some anomalies in the report, which is available from the council website, which were highlighted by Cllr Carole Waters.

She said: “The Chamber of Commerce has complained about the lack of consultation but inside the report it says there was a higher than average response from the business community. Can I be assured that the report is accurate?”

Cllr Bliss replied: “It is, yes.”

Any money made by the parking permit scheme above the running costs will be ring-fenced for transport purposes.

For full story, see next week's Kentish Express