SOUTHEND Council has scrapped car park season tickets to free up much-needed spaces during the busy summer season.

The authority will no longer offer permits for its seafront car parks between April and October.

The move is part of a £5million scheme to increase parking across the borough - which will see existing car parks extended.

It has received mixed reviews.

Simon Mudd, 53, chairman of the Essex Kitesurfers’ Club, said: “It just seems the council are trying to rob your money on parking no matter where you go. 

“Our club is encouraging people to Southend, so I don’t understand why we’re being penalised. 

“It annoys me that we encourage people to come to Southend and suddenly we get a kick.

“The car park in the area where we go, East Beach in Shoebury, isn’t very busy in the summer, so I don’t understand why we can’t get a permit there.

Paul Thompson, from the Southend Seafront Traders’ Association, believes getting rid of parking season tickets will help the council generate revenue and ease traffic congestion.

He said: “The crux of the issue is that there just isn’t enough parking in Southend. 

“A lot of car parking spaces are full throughout the year with people parking with discounted tickets. 

“The council is operating at a deficit and the revenue is much needed. It will also help ease congestion. 

The move will also benefit tourists and visitors who wish to park there.”

Southend Council is spending  £5million on creating new spaces at existing car park sites. 

Exact locations are yet to be determined, however, it is anticipated that the extra capacity will be generated in the town centre and seafront area. 

A spokesman for Southend Council said: “The changes to the parking charges along the seafront are part of a wider project to rationalise parking across the borough, with the aim of incentivising lesser-used car parks and freeing up extra parking spaces during the summer when demand is at its highest.

“In addition, we are investing over £5m creating new spaces at existing car parks, reducing long-term parking charges at all of our car parks, introducing seasonal charges and introducing a new cheap weekend rate at our Victoria Avenue car parks.”