‘They are taking the beach away from us’: Frustration as Heacham parking permits rise

A petition calling for parking prices to be cut at Heacham Beach has already garnered more than 500 signatures.

Residents are arguing that West Norfolk Council’s decision to increase permit costs at the popular spot will prevent elderly and disabled residents visiting the coast.

They have recently been hiked by more than 100% to £121.60, although this amount now covers a full year rather than the eight-month period previously in place.

Nicola Bailey, who lives in Heacham, set up the petition this week - stating that “many of the locals can't afford the new prices”.

“This is a retirement village, and we have a lot of elderly people,” she told the Lynn News.

“It is a really long walk to the beach for them. The council has basically taken the beach away from a lot of us.

“It now feels like a luxury that isn’t available to everyone, and that isn’t how it should be.”

The price increases came after the borough council’s budget-setting process for 2025/26, and the authority says it found “anomalies” in some areas where either no increases or “very minimal” increases had previously been made to permits.

“This has meant some charges have varied more than others. It does however bring our charges into line across the authority,” a council spokesperson said.

A £121.60 yearly permit in Heacham equates to a parking charge of 33p per day, which is cheaper than a two-hour short stay visit every fortnight.

In comparison, a Hunstanton permit costs £329 per year, a long-stay permit in Lynn is £525, and a short-stay permit in Lynn costs £1,041.

A council statement sent to concerned villagers said: “Whilst I can appreciate that you may be dissatisfied with this decision, we are striving to be fairer in our charging strategy which up until this point we have not been.”

However, Ms Bailey remains angered by the changes and is calling for them to be redacted.

Her petition currently has more than 560 signatures.

“They are just overcharging everybody,” she said.

“The beach is crucial to some for mental health reasons. I feel that this is discrimination against the elderly and disabled.

“We already have a problem with beach traffic parking illegally and irresponsibly,. This will only get worse with more people not being able to use the car park and will have a negative effect on those living closer to the beach.

“Stopping villagers from accessing the beach is a line that the council must not cross.”

The petition also describes the Heacham Beach parking area as an “unkempt grassy area full of potholes”.

The council has said its teams will assess the area in due course and make any repairs “deemed necessary”.

The petition can be accessed at https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/let-heacham-villagers-visit-their-beach

Meanwhile, Dan O’Connell, a 78-year-old retiree who lives in Hunstanton, has voiced his opposition to an increased cost for a seniors parking permit in the town - which has risen from £44.90 to £98.80.

He said the changes are “outrageous”.

However, in an email seen by the Lynn News, Hunstanton mayor Cllr Michael Ruston agreed that while the price has “rocketed”, he felt the previous permit was as “cheap as chips”.

The new £98.80 equates to less than £2 per week, and it costs £2.70 to park for one hour in the town without a permit.