A scheme which allows free town centre parking is expected to be scrapped in two years.

Arun Council is this week expected to agree to continue funding the scheme for Littlehampton until April 2002 but will then call for it to be dropped.

It is hoped by that time most of the work on a multi-million pound East Bank redevelopment and regeneration scheme to boost the local economy will be completed.

The disc scheme was introduced as a short-term measure four years ago in an attempt to bring more shoppers into the town centre.

The council says the parking scheme will not be needed once the East Bank is redeveloped and up and running.

The scheme is jointly funded by Arun, Littlehampton Town Council and the Littlehampton Traders Partnership.

After Arun announced earlier this year it could no longer afford its share of the £62,500 cost of the facility, a six month trial looking at other options to raise the money needed was launched.

This involved raising prices at other car parks along the seafront and exploring the possibility of encouraging advertising at the town centre sites.

Only three businesses expressed an interest in advertising, which was not enough to cover costs, and income from the seafront car parks dropped as people were unhappy at the rise in charges.

A full Arun Council meeting on Thursday will make a final decision.