The Council launched The Big Listen last summer as its new approach to engaging and working with the community on the issues residents care most about. Listening to the community and making it as easy as possible for everyone to be heard is central to the way the Council works.

Councillors took part in three public meetings online about the proposed car parking charges increases and spoke to residents and traders in Goring and West Worthing. They also received scores of emails from the community on the issue.

Cllr Martin McCabe, Worthing’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “As a Council for the community, listening to our citizens before we make decisions is at the heart of how we operate.

“We will continue to work in partnership with all of our residents and businesses to make sure we help Worthing to become better for everyone who lives here.”

Introducing charges at certain hours of the day in the free car parks would have brought in an estimated £42,000 a year for the Council. 

Councillors will instead revisit the plans for the next 12 months to look for ways to find the money elsewhere to help balance the budget.