EAST Meon Parish Council chairman has expressed anger that the lease on the villages only public car park has ended, leaving it set to close – without warning the parish council.

The only public car park in the village is in Work House Lane on land leased from the Bereleigh Estate by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC).

At the parish council meeting on Monday, November 14, in the village hall, councillors heard EHDC had terminated the lease of the past 22-years without consulting the parish council, or villagers.

Councillors hard a consultation had been expected, but hadn’t happened and EHDC had taken the decision to surrender the lease anyway despite the lack of talks.

Parish council chairman Cllr Alan Redpath it was not acceptable the decision had been made without talking to the parish council, or that no meaningful assessment had been made for the need, and use of, this popular car park.

He added that a meeting with EHDC should be arranged to discuss the likely impact of not having a public car park in the village.

He said as the district council and the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) promoted the village as a tourist destination with many walks that start at the car park.

Cllrs also heard that the rent paid by EHDC to Bereleigh hadn’t changed, in fact had been static, for years, and that the estate was happy to continue that arrangement if a new tenant for the car park could be found.

EHDC councillor for East Meon Rob Mocatta said a decision by the district council on effectively closing the car park had been taken a while ago

He also admitted that an expected consultation with the parish council hadn’t happened.

He added that if the parish council wanted to take over the car park, no finite costs were available, but a credit card parking ticket machine would cost about £800, and the district council would police it and collect parking fines.

Cllr Mocatta also agreed to arrange a meeting between the parish and district councils to discuss the issue.

It also suggested that the SDPNA was made aware of the situation.