Trial for free parking at Sizewell Beach for the next year

Starting today, Monday March 3, the scheme is funded by Sizewell C.

The previous payment station (Image: Sizewell C) The funding was released by Sizewell C's European Sites Mitigation Fund and the company has provided top up funding, bringing the total grant to £43,500 for a full 12 months.

The funding was agreed by Sizewell C’s Ecology Working Group. 

The previous payment station (Image: Sizewell C) It is intended to encourage year-round use of the beach and is expected to reduce informal road-side parking leading up to the beach. 

It also aims to help relieve possible pressure at more ecologically-sensitive areas such as Dunwich beach and other local heathlands during construction of Sizewell C. 

It is expected to reduce road-side parking (Image: Sizewell C) Steve Mannings, Sizewell C’s DCO delivery lead and member of the Ecology Working Group, said: “This trial is a fantastic example of collaborative working between Sizewell C and our stakeholders – and it’s one of a package of measures we’re delivering to protect nature in this area.

“We’re acutely aware of the sensitivity of the environment in which we’re constructing and this is another example of how we’re working hard to protect local wildlife.

"It’s also a great benefit to our local residents who use the beach, so we’re delighted to kickstart this initiative for the next twelve months.”

Sizewell Tea which is near the car park (Image: Sizewell C)

While other areas of the Suffolk coast are designated protection, Sizewell Beach is not. 

The aim of the Sizewell C Ecology Working Group is to ensure visitors keep using less ecologically-sensitive beaches.

Dogs are allowed on the beach throughout the year (Image: Sizewell C) Russell Clement, National Trust general manager for the Suffolk and Essex coast, said: “As a conservation charity, the National Trust is supportive of these measures, which will encourage the use of less ecologically sensitive areas, especially for those wanting to walk dogs off leads.

“In turn, this will help spread visitors across this highly designated landscape, places like Dunwich Heath, where we ask visitors to be more mindful on their visit to protect the rare and vulnerable wildlife found here." 

The success of the trial will be measured throughout before a decision is taken on further funding for more years. 

Parking at Sizewell Beach (Image: Sizewell C) Pat Hogan, a resident who lives on the Sizewell Gap road leading to the car park, said: “This is very good news. I’ve lived here now about 50 years, and have seen it grow in popularity, especially over the last few years."

They continued; "If the car park is free, hopefully, people will use it more fully and not use these awkward areas to park. "