New parking charges are taking a toll on a popular farmers’ market, even before they are introduced.

Back in January, Cllr Trudy Dean (Lib Dem) warned the Conservative administration on Tonbridge and Malling Council that its proposal to introduce on-street parking charges in West Malling - including on Sundays - would hit the regular farmers’ market.

It was not so much the fee itself that would prove the problem, but that there was to be a four-hour maximum limit before a potential fine was incurred which did not give the traders enough time to set up, sell and dismantle.

But the traders also feared that parking charges would drive away potential customers.

With 40 stalls, the market had been one of the most successful in the county.

Nevertheless, the decision to implement the charges was taken in April.

At its last meeting, the borough council’s cabinet members were asked to approve the capital expenditure on meter machines and signage that would make the charges in West Malling possible.

But West Malling’s ward member, Cllr Michelle Tatton (Lib Dem), told the leader of the council, Cllr Matt Boughton that: “I believe you are aware that 10 of the West Malling stallholders withdrew in August when they found out that there would be on-street parking charges, because of that four-hour window which makes it impossible for them to set up, to function through the farmers’ market and clear away in time.

“So already we are looking at losing a quarter of the stallholders. That is a really significant blow to the town and it has to bring into question the viability of the farmers’ market.”

Cllr Tatton said: “I hope the cabinet will think about that when considering whether now is the right time to commit to these capital expenditures to put the parking meters in West Malling, when we’ve already got an indication of what the consequences could be.”

But Cllr Boughton said: “We are talking about the implementation and not the principle [of the charges] today.

“We have made a decision as a council and, whether we like it or not, we are obliged to implement it and that’s what this report [on expenditure] does.”

“I don’t think it is reasonable to ask us to remove a decision before we’ve even implemented it.”

Cllr Boughton promised that all the new parking arrangements - which include charging for parking in Martin Square in Larkfield and in the Bailey Bridge car parks at Aylesford - would be reviewed after a year.

On Sunday, there was a farmer’s market in Tonbridge that was visited by Graham Simmonds and Kay Sinclair of Tonbridge - You Need To Know Facebook group, which has opposed the new parking charges from the outset, organising a series of rallies and public meetings.

Mrs Sinclair said: “We were talking to the market traders, the retail outlets and the public, urging them to write or email their local councillors and especially to Cllr Boughton (matt.boughton@tmbc.gov.uk) to let them know how they are affected by the latest changes to car parking times and charges. We want to be in plenty of time to prepare a fight against them at the TMBC 12-month review.

“If there is ever a time when the general public needs to stand together, and the TMBC cabinet members need to listen, it is now.”

She said: “Retailers told us they did not feel supported by the local council at all, with the extended hours and increased charges coming as a double blow.

“The Cosmic Chameleon stall holder told us the market was now noticeably quieter and a lot of the stall holders were very unhappy.”

Mrs Sinclair quoted the owner of Sussex Biltong Co as saying: “The parking charges have already affected my takings which are down by 50%. I feel it’s very short-sighted and negatively affects the traders who bring business to the town.”

Mrs Sinclair said: “It feels that TMBC is trying to divide the community.”

She pointed out that a special concession had been made for TMActive sports centre members to continue to benefit from free parking at the Angel car park, while everyone else had to pay.

She said: “Many people in Tonbridge live in properties with no parking or limited parking, now they have to pay in the nearby car parks.

“Meanwhile, in East Peckham, you can still visit the library, chemist, takeaways, butchers, supermarket and park in the TMBC car park with no parking charges.”

In the last financial year, the council made a surplus over costs of £1.1 million on its parking budget.