A seaside cafe fears it will be forced to close by new charges being introduced at a nearby car park.

NCP, which runs the council-owned car park beneath the Sea Lane Cafe, in Sea Lane, Goring, plans to introduce fees. Peter Attwood, who bought the business with Gavin Trimmer last May, said customers would not want to pay to park and would go elsewhere.

Worthing Borough Council has offered them the chance to take over the running of the public toilet and the car park in which it stands but they say they cannot afford it.

Mr Attwood said: "It's a bit of a Catch 22. If we don't take the toilets on they will let NCP charge and if we do we will face an expense we can't afford. Our bread and butter is our regular customers who come in for a coffee and a scone. They're not going to want to pay the extra in parking so they're not going to come. Summer won't be a problem but the winter could be a killer and, being a new business, it's a bit worrying.

"It's a real shame because we've done a lot to it since we took over and it has got a real buzz - people love coming here. I feel sorry for the residents as well because people will park on the streets instead."

Richard Waller, of the Goring Residents' Association, said cars have lined the streets since restrictions were introduced along Mulberry Lane. The problem would be exacerbated if charges were introduced in the Sea Lane car park.

He said: "If you're within 300 yards of the sea then you're going to have cars parked outside your house all weekend by people wanting to avoid paying.

"As for the toilets, if they were inside the cafe then of course they would look after it but as it's a public loo open to everyone. Why should they?" He said the toilets were vital for the cafe and the hundreds of day-trippers who visit in the summer. The association is preparing a letter of complaint to the council. A petition against the move, launched on Monday, has already attracted 600 signatures.

Steve Coe, the council's estate manager, said: "We're having discussions with a third party with the possibility of them taking over the toilets and the car park."

Friday, March 24, 2006