A hefty parking charge is to come into force at a beach popular with Kent day-trippers.

Visitors will have to pay up to £30 per day to park at Camber Sands in a council-run car park where they could have previously parked for a fraction of the price.

A report to Rother District Council cabinet members disclosed the charges ahead of the summer season.

It said the reason for the new charge comes after an increase in the costs of managing the destination's car parks including added security costs following a rise in anti-social behaviour at the location during busy periods.

The current agreed summer 2023/24 tariffs for both the Central and Western car parks at the site in East Sussex start at £3 for up to one hour and go up to a maximum of £18 for six or more hours.

But hourly charges in the Camber Sands Central car park will be scrapped and the new plans will see the price to park at the more popular facility almost double for a whole day.

Any visitors to the beach who arrive before 3pm would have to pay £30 to park in the Central car park – an increase of 66% on the existing maximum charge.

Those who arrive after 3pm would pay a reduced fee of £15 in the Central site.

Fees at the Western car park will remain based on an hourly tariff rate of £4 for one hour, £8 for up to three hours and £16 for up to six hours.

The report says combining these options would allow the council to "maximise income whilst encouraging those staying for shorter periods to park at Camber Western, thereby not adding to congestion in Camber Village".

The officer report predicted the changes could see additional revenue of £200,000 generated from both car parks – £180,000 at Central and £20,000 at the Western car park – based on 2022 visitor numbers.

It said: "Camber Sands Central car park provides direct access to the beach and is thus the prime destination car park for most visitors.

"On busy summer days, Central car park can fill within minutes of opening and staff then divert queuing traffic attempting to access the car park to other car parks.

"This can lead to anti-social behaviour, visitors parking in inappropriate locations throughout the village, and the resulting road traffic congestion can severely impact access and egress for emergency services.

"Encouraging visitors to park at Camber Western car park, on the outskirts of the village, as their first choice, is a key element of local traffic management."

The report added it was aiming to set the fees to discourage illegal on-street parking in Camber village where East Sussex County Council enforcement can issue £70 fines – reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.

Councillors rejected the proposal to introduce a flat fee structure at the Western car park as well set slightly lower than the Central charges which have now been adopted.

They also considered introducing a reviewed tariff to increase the rates in both car parks at different levels.