A petition with 1,901 valid signatures, including concerns about a three-hour limit at Guildhall Car Park in Sandwich, was considered by Dover District Council at its meeting on 30 September 2026.

A petition signed by 1,901 residents, businesses and visitors was put before Dover District Council on 30 September 2026, calling for a review of parking charges, restrictions and maximum stay limits across the district.

What the petition says

The petition, organised by Mr Harry Sampson, specifically names the three-hour maximum stay limit at Guildhall Car Park in Sandwich as a concern. Its signatories argue that current parking policy risks harming local trade, tourism and town centres by discouraging longer visits and reducing footfall.

The petition text states that “recent financial reports presented to Dover District Council have shown parking income falling significantly below expectations”, and calls on the council to adopt “a balanced parking strategy that encourages people to visit, stay longer and support local businesses”.

Because the petition exceeded the 1,600-signature threshold set out in the council’s procedures, it was automatically referred to full Council for consideration rather than being handled at officer or committee level.

Options before the council

Mr Sampson was given ten minutes to address the meeting. Officers set out a range of options available to councillors, including forwarding the petition to the Cabinet — which holds responsibility for parking as an executive function — referring it to a committee or officer, requesting additional information, or taking no action.

The council had not published the minutes of the meeting at the time of writing, so the committee’s decision is not yet on the public record.

Sources

Top image: Guildhall Car Park, Sandwich, Kent — The Portable Antiquities Scheme, Bish, 2011-07-25 10:09:17, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.