A once-thriving harbour community on the Isle of Sheppey has been described as an "empty" ghost town following the introduction of new parking charges at previously free car parks. Small business owners in Queenborough are outraged over the fees, which they claim have decimated footfall, leading some pubs to take the drastic step of banning councillors who voted for the changes.
Background of the Parking Charges
For years, visitors to Queenborough and its array of independent shops enjoyed free parking. However, this changed on 1 April when Swale council began charging at Park Road and Queenborough Library car parks. Similar fees were also implemented at Front Brents in Faversham, Grafton Road in Sittingbourne, Little Oyster in Minster, and Halfway car park in Minster Road.
The council anticipates these new parking charges across the borough will generate £2.7 million in revenue during the 2025/2026 financial year. The cash-strapped authority recently had to draw £1.7 million from its reserves to balance its budget.
Backlash from Local Businesses
However, the move has sparked a significant backlash in Queenborough, with traders reporting that both the car parks and their businesses have been "empty" since the charges came into effect. A new parking meter was even vandalised with white paint just a day after its installation and remains out of operation.
Sandra Fowle, 61, co-owner of Bosuns tea room opposite the Park Road car park, has been a long-time campaigner against the fees. "It's two o'clock in the afternoon and we're now empty," she said. "Small businesses are the ones that are really struggling. Everything's gone up, not just for us, but for everyone. Why should visitors have to pay for car parking charges?"
Fayleigh Mcilory, 31, the bar manager at the nearby Flying Dutchman, said that the Park Road car park is "empty every single day". She stated: "It's affecting us massively. During the week, we've usually got people in the garden when the sun's out [like today]. But we're having no one coming in at the moment. [It's] very, very quiet. Everything has halved at least. It's worrying because we'll end up closing if we don't get busy, so we need it to go back to free parking."
The Flying Dutchman, along with other Queenborough pubs including the Rose Inn, The Old House at Home, and the Admiral's Arms, has displayed notices barring councillors who supported the charges.
Creative Solutions and Community Impact
Fedat Surucu, boss of Luna's Cafe, has resorted to reimbursing customers for their first hour of parking. "This affects my business so much because people have to spend a minimum of an hour to eat here," he explained. "All the customers love my food and my service, and I don't want to lose my customers. I feel sorry for my customers because they just spend only a little bit of money [here] and they have to pay £1.60 an hour for parking. It's too much to charge. The council should give the first two hours free, then charge anytime after that."
The impact extends beyond businesses to community groups. Ray Butcher, chair of Queenborough's Castle Connections community hub, noted that Age UK recently ceased its Knit & Natter group at the venue due to the new charges, with other clubs also threatening to relocate. "The car parks are empty most of the time and residents are complaining about it," the 76-year-old said. "It's a real issue."
Council's Response and Historical Context
Councillor Charles Gibson explained that the previously free car parks were an anomaly on the Isle, which generally lacks free parking. "We would love to have free car parking all over the borough. It would be great for our businesses and residents. But sadly, in the current financial climate, it's not possible," he said.
A Swale council spokesperson added that parking services incur ongoing costs, and the new charges in Queenborough remain lower than in many neighbouring coastal areas. "Feedback received from statutory consultations led to changes in the original proposals, including the removal of charges during school drop-off and pick-up times at selected car parks to address safety concerns," the spokesperson said. "Seasonal pricing has also been introduced at the Little Oyster and Park Road car parks to help manage demand during peak periods, while maintaining availability for residents during quieter times of the year. Here at Swale, we want to support high streets and continue to assist small businesses through measures such as business rates relief. With the alignment of parking charges now in place we will review the impact of our policies across the borough, in due course."
Amateur local historian Desmond Cross discovered in 2024 that the Queenborough Charter, dating back to 1369, declared the harbour town "exempt from all taxes and tolls". However, Swale council said that this ancient charter was superseded when the borough of Queenborough was reformed as a municipal borough in 1885.
