Council wants to reduce number of car parking permits

Officers have recommended that people living in 'car-free' developments should not be given parking permits and those living in 'car-lite' development should only be allowed one per household.

A final decision will be made later in the summer but MP Norman Baker, who has campaigned on the issue, has welcomed the recommendation.

A spokesman for the county council said: 'We share Mr Baker's concerns that new housing developments have the potential to cause traffic problems.

'So it follows that if we are encouraging car-free and car-lite developments to tackle this issue, we must find a way of ensuring that they do indeed discourage car-use by residents.

'The details are yet to be finalised but it is likely that a recommendation will come from the council to restrict parking permits to one per dwelling in car-lite developments and zero at car-free developments.

'The final decision will be made by Matthew Lock, the lead member for transport and environment, at a public meeting.'

MP Norman Baker said: 'This is a very welcome step and good common sense.

'The streets around the town centre are already heavily used by residents, and there has been a real fear that if the new occupiers of sizeable developments intended to be car-lite, such as that planned for behind Lewes House, were able to qualify for permits, the consequence for nearby streets would be horrendous.

'This decision means that those who purchase a car-free residence will genuinely have to be prepared to live without a car, which is exactly what the status of such developments intends.'