CAMPAIGNERS fighting charging at a Caister seafront car park have been given renewed hope after the borough council agreed to discuss it at its cabinet meeting.

CAMPAIGNERS fighting charging at a Caister seafront car park have been given renewed hope after the borough council agreed to discuss it at its cabinet meeting.

Villagers have been battling to end charging at Beach Road car park during the summer, claiming it is causing holidaymakers to park in residential roads to avoid the parking charges.

On Monday, the council's scrutiny committee agreed to pass the matter on to the cabinet, which could then decide to refer the issue to the car park strategy steering group which has the power to overturn the charges.

Caister borough councillor Marie Field, who has been fighting the car park charges, said: “Hopefully they will treat it in a fair minded manner and pass it on to the car park strategy committee, to be examined in a more detailed manner as I still believe it will not only relieve the parking situation but also bring in extra revenue to the small businesses around the centre of Caister village.”

She had collected a 266 signature petition among residents concerned at the number of cars parking in front of homes in Manor Road and Beach Road.

Earlier this year, Graham Plant, the council's cabinet member for regeneration and tourism, agreed to trial free parking at the car park during the summer season, but this was scuppered by the cabinet which feared losing the revenue generated by the car park.