A consultation in January and February revealed that most residents and businesses do not want parking controls to the extent that were first proposed by the East Sussex County Council but residents in some areas did want controls.
As a result, the Council has gone back to the drawing board and will now work with Seaford Town Council and Lewes District Council to develop a new set of proposals, which focus on problem areas and streets where residents do want controls.
Councillor Matthew Lock, Lead Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, said: "The whole purpose of this consultation was to find out what people think. I hope it shows that when the people of Seaford speak, we are willing to listen and to act on what they are telling us. There was a feeling that in some cases we were proposing a sledge hammer to crack a nut so we will now be looking at measures that will apply a lighter touch.
"What this exercise also confirmed was that people believe there are problems with the current system and most want something done about them. So we are now going to discuss problems and possible solutions with residents and businesses over a smaller area – street-by-street – to see if we can all agree on a scheme that will encourage commerce, tourism and residential life to prosper."
Almost a thousand residents and a hundred businesses responded to the consultation packs sent out by the County Council and another 1,200 letters and 72 emails were sent in to County Hall. Around 550 people attended roadshows and 90 people commented on the Council's special telephone hotline.
As a result of their comments, Seaford Town Council and Lewes District Council will be actively involved with the County Council in developing more modest solutions tailored to the specific needs of the town. Residents and businesses will be consulted on this in due course.
For more information on the process or the results and next steps, please visit our Seaford controlled parking zone consultation pages.
Notes to editors
For details on the new proposals, please read agenda item 5 for the 25 June meeting of the Lead Member for Transport and Environment.
Please call Mike Taggart on 01273 482155 for more information.
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