A plan to extend parking charges to Sundays, bank holidays and the evenings has received widespread opposition.

Mid Sussex District Council is looking to implement additional parking charges and extend chargeable hours in all town centre car parks.

Currently, charges run until 6pm Monday to Saturday, excluding bank holidays, but the change would see car park users charged up until 8pm.

Parking on bank holidays and Sundays would also cost £1.50 in East Grinstead and Haywards Heath and £1 in Burgess Hill.

Adam White, Burgess Hill town councillor, has opposed the plan and says it threatens town centre businesses.

Cllr White said: “I am not in support of it by any stretch.

“Sunday is one of the biggest trading days, we believe. To implement extra costs will prevent the community from coming to the town centre, which is going to cause the businesses problems.

Cllr White has voiced his opposition to the plans alongside MP Mims DaviesCllr White has voiced his opposition to the plans alongside MP Mims Davies (Image: Councillor Adam White)

“Why not go to Tesco and spend the money, or buy it off Amazon? It is putting our retailers at a disadvantage.

“The town centre needs all the help it can get at the moment.”

A petition was started in Burgess Hill against the council’s plans, which amassed around 8,000 signatures.

Mims Davies, MP for East Grinstead, has also voiced her opposition in a letter to Mid Sussex District Council.

She said: “This is a real danger and of particular concern to those incredibly hard-working people in the hospitality sector who rely on bank holiday, evening and weekend trade to bolster their sustainability.

“While I fully recognise there is the need to 'balance' the council's finances, it should, vitally, not be to the detriment of struggling local high street businesses who still, several years on from the Covid pandemic, remain vulnerable to the loss of custom this will undoubtedly cause.”

Miss Davies also accused the council of “disenfranchising” the older generation of Mid Sussex, who may not have been able to access the online consultation period.

She has called on the council to reinstate their Mid Sussex Matters communications to residents' homes, which would keep people up to date on council matters.

Mid Sussex District Council has been approached for comment.

The consultation is now closed.