A PETITION has been launched to stop councillors from making 'short-sighted' parking changes after the town council gave their approval to charge motorists until 9pm.

Lyme Regis Town Council's strategy and policy committee last week recommended to full council that from next April, charges in all of the town council-run car parks will run from 8am until 9pm, - while hourly charges will also be increased.

Councillors hope that a new residents loyalty card will allow locals to park free of charge during evenings, but no decision is yet to be made.

Simon Lippett has started a petition to show the council how locals feel about the proposals.

The Lyme Regis Sea Angling Club member is concerned extending charges to 9pm will have a 'huge impact on tourism'.

He said: "All of our matches are after 6pm, because of the free parking and some people have said if they are charged after 6pm next year, they won't be coming back.

"It's really short-sighted will also affect businesses in the town and will have a huge impact on tourism, which is so important to the town. If enough people sign the petition, the council will hopefully start to listen to our concerns."

Cllr Stan Williams suggested that car parking charges at Monmouth Beach and Cabanya car parks should be raised.

He said: "Nobody has got a car park as close to the beach and the harbour as Lyme Regis. Monmouth Beach is prime and I believe we should be charging £1.50 per hour and I believe we should be charging from 8am until 9pm."

Cllr Michaela Ellis said that the parking charges should be raised at the beach car parks, due to the popularity.

She said: "They are the first car parks to fill up every day.

"£1.50 per hour at Monmouth Beach and Cabanya, I really think that is no money down there for people who want to not have the bother of carrying stuff about. If you were to charge £20 per day down there, you would get it easily."

Cllr Daryl Turner, who represents the town at town, district and county level, told fellow councillors that by raising charges by 50 per cent an hour at the beach car parks would be 'too expensive' and that £1.20 is 'much more realistic'.

Subject to full council approval, motorists at Monmouth Beach and Cabanya will be charged £1.20 an hour, while vehicles parked at Woodmead Halls will be charged £1 per hour and £30 for a weekly pass.

Tony Colston, chairman of the Lyme Regis Business Group said: "We are not overly happy with the increase in charges.

"It is certainly likely to have a negative impact on businesses and employment in the town.

"We would like the council to consider alternative ways. The current proposals would possibly do more damage than good."

To see the petition, please visit tinyurl.com/change-lymeparking