CONTROVERSIAL plans to charge for parking in Dedham have been paused amid concerns the move would make the village's parking 'nightmare' even worse. 

Colchester Council and the North Essex Parking Partnership, NEEP, are debating proposals to introduce new areas where parking charges could apply.

The proposal was announced last year for a number of sites across the Colchester borough and were due to be discussed later this week. 

But a report going before the committee revealed plans to introduce charges in two Colchester streets and Dedham have been paused.

In a report, the authority listed Military Road and Kendall Road, as well as Dedham as “sites for consideration”, but plans have been put on hold.

Stephen Mole, chairman of Dedham Parish Council, told the Gazette that plans may not be finalised for the village.

He said: “We are under the impression that the plans for the High Street were not to be considered further.

“Parking is an emotive subject and we would like to be consulted by the respective authorities before decisions are made.”

Philip Child’s daughter Rosie is the owner of the Old Bakery Cafe in High Street, a small family run cafe serving homemade breakfast, cake and coffee.

He fears parking charges will affect the business and customer base.

He said: “It is already a nightmare finding a parking spot in Dedham. Our customers are mainly elderly people and the nearest car park is quite a walk away.

“Parking in the area is already restricted. If the review goes through, they won’t make a lot of money from a small area like this.

“There is a farmer down the road, who charges £5 for people parking on one of his fields, and people are still parking on the streets.

"People do not want to pay £5 and we have the same problem here. People cannot be bothered or cannot afford to pay and it would have an impact on our business.”

A North Essex Parking Partnership spokesman said: "The proposal for new on-street parking sites across north Essex was voted through in principle at the NEPP Joint Committee in March.

"We are at the very first stage of this big piece of work. This work will include local engagement, detailed site designs and an informal consultation with key stakeholders.

"The feedback from this will then be taken back to our joint committee later this year, to seek a decision on whether it proceeds to a formal public consultation, all before any schemes are approved.

"This means it is not certain that any of the identified sites will end up with paid parking being introduced, or if it is introduced, what the final scheme and tariffs may be."