Haven Leisure car park charging move
The group has defended the increase
Haven Leisure Limited has defended planned changes to a popular Humberston car park, including making it a pay and display. It says installing at St Anthony’s Bank Car Park, Humberston, a height restriction barrier, an automated number plate recognition (ANPR) parking system, and making it a pay and display are measures “to help better protect and maintain the car park”.
Haven has cited anti-social behaviour and illegal overnight stays at the car park as prompting the changes. The move to make it in future a pay and display car park has received cross-party criticism. Melanie Onn MP (Labour – Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes) has launched a petition against it, which already has over 850 signatures.
Two planning applications to get approval for the infrastructure for the changes to the car park went before North East Lincolnshire Council’s planning committee this week. There was further criticism there of the plans to end St Anthony’s Bank Car Park’s long-established free of charge status, with one councillor dubbing it “morally poor”.
Planning policy meant councillors were not there to decide on making it pay and display. The committee could only decide on whether the proposed infrastructure was acceptable to the area and majority voted it was. Councillors included a condition that the height barrier is lifted between 7am and 10pm.
Ms Onn’s petition urges decision-makers “to reject the introduction of parking charges at St Anthony’s Bank Car Park and preserve free public access to this valued community asset”. Humberston and New Waltham Ward Cllr Simon Taylor (Reform UK) has also penned an open letter to Haven calling for a rethink on the charge plans.
The car park is council-owned land, but is leased and run by Haven. Council leader Cllr Oliver Freeston (Reform – Croft Baker) has stated on social media, “It is council land, but on a long term lease to Haven, we have checked and there was no clause inserted into that contract stating that they cannot introduce charges, unfortunately.
“If there was, we would step in and stop them.” The changes will not create any height restrictions for kiteboarders and paddle boarders. Night fisherman will also continue to have access to the car park.
‘Measures necessary to address ongoing problems’
Councillors heard the planning applications sought permission for the ANPR system, a 2.7m tall height barrier, two pay and display machines, and associated signage. A council officer stated the installations involved were not felt to be detrimental to the area’s character.
The main infrastructure-related application got 64 residents’ objections to it and opposition from Humberston Village Council. An objector, Mr Stephenson, questioned the need for the 2.7m tall barrier to stop reported anti-social behaviour and overnight stay issues. He asked for the height barrier element’s removal from any permission granted.
“It will remain an existing public car park,” said an agent on behalf of Haven Leisure, adding the application was simply about infrastructure to manage it, for “measures necessary to address ongoing problems”, including anti-social behaviour and overnight travel.
He also pointed out similar measures were introduced by the council to nearby Marine Walk Car Park, for similar reasons. A height restrictor and charges for stays of longer than two hours were brought there in 2023.
The agent also stated the barrier’s sole purpose “is to prevent overnight use for campervans” and the like. He added an option to continue to allow its use for larger vehicles during daytime is to swing back the barrier.
‘Residents have enjoyed this for years for free’
“Under planning terms, what’s wrong with this,” said Cllr Henry Hudson (Wolds Ward). “But it feels a bit uncomfortable.
“Residents have enjoyed this space for years for free.” Cllr Philip Jackson (Waltham) emphasised the decision for councillors was about whether the infrastructure was acceptable in planning terms, not the charges. As such, he said members needed “to have our planning hats on this” rather than “our visitors to Cleethorpes hats”.
“I just think it’s morally poor to do this,” said Cllr Darren Mayne (Wolds) of making it pay and display. The height barrier, ANPR system and other infrastructure was granted approval by four votes to three, with one abstention. The separate advertising consent for signage was also approved, with three votes against.
“I would rather not see that charge at that park,” committee chair Cllr Matt Patrick (Heneage) told the LDRS. He added he “probably would have voted in a very different way” if the charges had been in the planning remit to decide on.
Haven defends changes
The LDRS contacted Haven for comment on the plans to make Anthony’s Bank Car Park a pay and display. A Haven spokesperson said: “We have reviewed the issues of anti-social behaviour and unauthorised overnight parking at St Anthony’s Bank Car Park and are introducing new measures to help better protect and maintain the car park. These measures will help ensure the car park can continue to be used safely and responsibly by local residents and beach users.”