A petition has been set up to stop new car parking charges being brought into Deal on Sundays.

It had reached 1,431 names by Tuesday afternoon.

The petition, posted at change.org last week, wants Dover District Council to reconsider its introduction of Sunday parking charges.

The document says: “Deal is a vibrant town with a popular high street filled with independent shops, a historic pier that attracts anglers and sightseers from miles around.

“But that may all come under threat if Dover District Council continues with their ill-thought through plan to charge for car parking on a Sunday.”

The petition was launched by Deal town councillor Nick Tomaszewski after the district council cabinet last week voted to introduce the charges in 12 car parks in Dover, Deal and Sandwich.

In Deal they are Middle Street, South Street, Stanhope Road, Town Hall, Sainsbury’s, St Ethelburga’s and Park Street. In Dover they are Woolcomber Street, Bench Street, Townwall Street and Stembrook and in Sandwich it is the Guildhall Car Park.

Labour’s Cllr Tomaszewski said: “I am on a committee for inward investment at Deal Town Council to look at how to enhance the town and make it better for visitors. This proposal to charge on Sundays is going against everything we are working towards.

“I’m incensed because this town welcomes a lot of people every year and that is how we’ve made it a success.”

Dover Labour councillor Peter Wallace is on the district scrutiny committee that had recommended against introducing the charges.

He said: “I love visiting Deal. The town has a great buzz and the High Street is booming. I have never had a problem parking in Deal. I like that it is busy because that means people are enjoying the town and will want to come back.

“Parking should remain free on Sundays all across the district and we should be working more with councillors like Nick, who care about the town, so we can actually use the district council to support tourism and our high streets, not hinder them.”

The council argues that car parks are almost full at weekends and during special events there is even more demand.

It fears a lack of spaces could lead to a reduction of footfall in the town centre.

The proposals, later going out to public consultation, are also for seven-day charging for the on-street bays in Beach Street, Prince of Wales Terrace, King Street and Victoria Road.

Free Sunday parking will remain at Union Road and St George’s Road. You can sign Cllr Tomaszewski’s petition by clicking here.