Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council say they won't be making changes anytime soon as traders can park elsewhere.
Finn Macdiarmid reports.
Finn Macdiarmid reports.
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00:00Parking is likely the last thing on your mind when you're looking forward to your day out.
00:04It means people can shop and spend money to support local businesses.
00:08But it is essential to the local economy.
00:10In West Morling, new changes to the parking restrictions have local residents concerned,
00:14including new parking meters along the high street and new restrictions,
00:18meaning that you can't stay at council car parks for more than four hours.
00:22I see it as a backwards move, quite frankly.
00:26So, it makes no sense to me whatsoever.
00:29I think the parking situation here and the charges are crazy.
00:34Julie runs an independent menswear store named after her dog, Clay,
00:38and she says she's witnessing the effects of restrictions on her shop and others on the high street.
00:45Well, with parking charges increasing as well and parking meters being installed along the high street,
00:51businesses like this one, especially independent ones, say they may struggle to turn a profit.
00:57Parking is just another restriction.
01:00People can go elsewhere, like Bluewater for the day, and park free.
01:04Here, they have to make the effort to come and support us independent shops.
01:09And in doing so, they've now got to pay to do that.
01:14So, it's another level, it's another inconvenience.
01:17And, yeah, I think it will definitely have a negative impact on our business, without doubt.
01:22Footfall, the drop, the sort of just pop-in customer is definitely going to dwindle.
01:28West Morling also has a farmers' market that's run for 25 years and become a staple of the town,
01:34even winning at the Kent Food and Drink Awards last year.
01:37With the change in restrictions, local councillors fear for the knock-on effect on the market and the local economy.
01:42People are extremely upset at the fact that car parking charges for particularly the Sunday market are coming in.
01:52The traders are allowed four hours, and no extension of four hours, and no return within three.
01:59Now, they get here, most of them, about 7 o'clock in the morning, and they don't leave for two.
02:04That's seven hours, so after four hours at 11 o'clock, they've got to go home.
02:08So, it's not worth it.
02:10According to Tonbridge and Morling councillor Matt Borton,
02:13given that traders already have parking available in the road closure, as they have always done,
02:18we will not be making any changes to this policy immediately.
02:21As with all parking policies, we will review the next year after any new changes have had a number of months to settle in.
02:28Well, traders, visitors and business owners will be waiting to see if the parking restrictions are stopped,
02:33or if it will remain a charged issue.
02:36Finn McDermott for KMTV in West Morling.