Our seaside village is becoming a ghost town thanks to council’s ridiculous parking rules – we’re losing thousands

LOCALS living in a seaside village say it's set to become a ghost town thanks to their council's proposed parking rules.

Sarah Reed and her family have been running a popular ice cream stall in Kent for years, but says they're set to lose thousands.

She says that's because the Folkstone & Hythe District Council is planning to put a "massive loading bay" directly outside their shop.

Sarah, who runs Herbert's with her daughters, said the parking bay will "sabotage" their business - which people love sitting outside while they enjoy their ice creams.

She says the bay would see them lose their tables and chairs on what's known as The Stade, and they'd end up with lorries parked right outside - hiding them from potential customers.

Sarah told : "I am hoping it is just an oversight by the council.

"It is still frustrating though, because even if it is an oversight, the council is paid (by taxpayers), and it didn't come to check."

The mum and her daughters, Hana and Amie, have now turned to making a petition, which has already racked up more than 1,600 signatures.

On it they wrote: "The council is now proposing to put a massive loading bay right outside the window/serving hatch of Herbert’s.

"This will ruin the business and stop people enjoying the treat of sitting and watching."

Now other locals have jumped on board too, slamming the council.

Sally Hearn wrote: "There is nothing nicer than sitting outside Herbert's with an ice cream watching the world go by.

"Don't let this lovely local business suffer. They should be supported not destroyed."

The council said the plans are currently open to feedback, adding: "The council is proposing to introduce loading restrictions along the existing double yellow lines in The Stade and Fish Market area.

"It is hoped that this will address the obstruction regularly caused by vehicles being parked on the existing double yellow lines.

“This change would mean that drivers of all vehicles (including Blue Badge holders) are not able to wait or load on the double yellow lines and loading and unloading would only be permitted in two designated loading bays.

"Blue Badge holders will be able to continue to park without charge in the permit and limited waiting bays for as long as required."

The Sun has approached the council for further comment.

It's not unusual for Brits to dub their villages ghost towns after massive changes.

Neighbours living in a once-thriving area say it's now a ghost town and there's no need to leave their homes.

Charlotte Gurney runs a retail park and shop in the small Norfolk village and says she feels like she's losing money week-on-week.

Elsewhere, East  residents recently opened up about how desperate they were to leave their town.

Locals of Dagenham said they have "had enough" of the borough as old hotspots have closed and "nothing changes".

Meanwhile, locals in one of the "deadliest" areas in the UK said they won't leave their homes.

Disheartened locals in Great Bridge, West Midlands, have seen the once-thriving area drastically change with shuttered shops and rising crime rates.