A bid to stop controversial charges being introduced at three coastal car parks has failed.

Business owners, cafe workers, and tourists previously said it would be like “robbery” if plans go ahead for the hourly fees, describing it as “penalising people who want to see the sea.”

Swale council wants to bring in the changes on the Isle of Sheppey, to the previously free Little Oyster car park in Minster and those at the library and Park Road, both in Queenborough.

The Little Oyster and Bosuns tea rooms have both started petitions against the move.

The budget also includes proposals for an increase in existing charges elsewhere on Sheppey, and in Sittingbourne and Faversham.

Opposition leader on Swale council, Cllr Lloyd Bowen, said the Labour-led rainbow coalition was using car parking as “a cash cow to bolster its spending plans”.

Labour holds 16 seats, with the Swale Independents Alliance (SIA) having 12 and the Green Party, the smallest member of the coalition, with three. The Conservatives hold 11 seats.

Cllr Bowen, who represents Teynham and Lynsted ward, said that the charges were being pushed through “without properly thinking through the consequences on the local nighttime economy and high street businesses”.

“The rises being proposed will hit the pockets of ordinary taxpayers already suffering a cost-of-living crisis,” he added.

However, the council's chief financial officer estimated fees at the free car parks would bring £38,000 in additional revenue to the council, which is facing “extreme challenges” in balancing its books for 2024/25.

The council’s draft budget outlined a budget gap of £1.36m which would be funded from reserves if further savings were not identified.

During the budget meeting on Wednesday, Sittingbourne council leader Cllr Tim Gibson (Lab) opposed the Tory amendment, saying it was “not fiscally sound”.

The amendment – voted down by 25 votes, with 11 in favour – also included a number of changes to the budget.

This included scrapping new fees for pitch hire for youth sports and the collection of medical waste would cost the authority £21,000 to fund.

The Conservative proposal also suggested reducing nighttime parking charges from £3 to £2 – which would lose the authority £133,000.

Together these changes would have cost the council £188,000 to fund, which the Torys proposed to be partly financed by axing its Inside Swale magazine, bringing in overnight campervan charges, taking £14,000 from reserves, and using grant money.

With the motion falling, a decision on whether to scrap the free parking will now go to the community committee which meets on Wednesday, March 6.

An increase in council tax was determined at the meeting, however. It is to go up by 2.95% to £200.70 a year for Band D property.

Cllr Gibson explained: “Our share of the council tax bill helps us provide a broad range of services like play areas, food hygiene inspections, waste and recycling collections, taxi licensing, homelessness support, planning advice, and street cleansing to name just a few.

“For all that, most of us – more than 80% – will be paying £3.86 a week or less.

“Swale council is in a better position than many councils facing the stark reality of bankruptcy but we have faced extreme challenges in producing a balanced budget

“I’m pleased we have been able to work together to set a budget that we believe will keep us on a sound financial footing, whilst delivering the essential services local people value.”