Managers at Brighton Marina want to impose charges at a multi-storey car park to stop motorists using it as a park-and-ride.

Dozens of drivers take advantage of the free car park at Brighton Marina and then catch the bus to Brighton town centre for their shopping.

There have even been reports of visitors to Royal Sussex County Hospital and guests of Brighton hotels using the marina to park their cars.

Becky Taylor, spokeswoman for Brighton Marina, said: "We may consider charging at the car park at some stage but not immediately. The car park was built and designed for people using the marina, including the boat owners, tenants and the public.

"It is designed for the tenants' and customers' benefits, not to subsidise parking in the city."

The car park has more than 1,600 spaces and can get full when there are big events such as the Big Splash, which marked the end of this year's Brighton Festival.

David Courtney, who masterminded the Walk of Fame and owns the Walk of Fame caf at the marina, said: "There needs to be a charge or maybe a ticket validation system where visitors get free parking if they have been to a restaurant or shop.

"Those who want to park here and go into Brighton would then have to pay like anywhere else.

"The ice rink and 11,000-seater arena proposed for Black Rock will have no parking. If Robbie Williams puts on a concert, how will they shift 11,000 people, whether by cars or coaches? The burden can't fall on this marina."

Mike Snelling, secretary of Brighton Marina Boatman's Association, said some commuters to London used the multi-storey car park and caught the bus to Brighton station.

But the association's main concern was over Brunswick Developments' proposed £175 million mini-metropolis scheme for a tower and 13 smaller blocks of flats.

Charter boat owners, traders and residents fear the extra 990 homes on top of the 850 already at the marina would add too much pressure on parking. Only 171 new car parking spaces have been earmarked under Brunswick's proposals.

Mr Snelling said: "There will be cycle racks but people who buy luxury penthouse flats in the marina don't have bikes, they have Bentleys."

Some residents have voiced concerns over any introduction of charges at the car park. At the moment, anyone buying a property at the marina gets an allocated parking space but those with more than one vehicle fear charges would put a serious dent in their wallets.

Some traders are nervous car park charges would drive away customers.

Lisa Grebby, co-owner of Saks Hair and Beauty, said: "It's a difficult one. If people are doing park-and-ride, it stops them using the marina but charges might take away some of our customers."

Rob Seabourne, manager of Ancasta Boat Sales, said: "I wouldn't expect my business to suffer as much as other businesses but it's nice to tell my clients there is no cost involved in coming to see me.

"I can't see it being a positive point if charges are introduced for parking."

June 30,2005