Extra car parking spaces have been made available at West Beach, Hayling Island in time for summer.
Havant Borough Council have been working closely with Natural England to ensure the area identified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) can be used, on a seasonal basis, to ease some of the parking pressures.
Opening on Tuesday 1 August, the new car park is positioned behind a height restriction barrier that will allow up to 47 vehicles to park whilst visiting the beach.
Councillor Julie Richardson, Assistant Cabinet Lead for Hayling Island Seafront and Tourism, said: “I am delighted that we are now in a position to accommodate the parking demand with the opening of this new area on West Beach.
“Our officers have been working closely with Natural England to ensure the area being made available to vehicles will not harm the natural habitat within the SSSI.
“This is an extremely popular area for locals, visitors and water sport enthusiast during the summer season, and we hope by allowing parking within this area will help ease some of the parking pressures that have been created following the loss of the previous car park through natural coastal erosion earlier this year.”
The pay and display car park will take on a natural landscape and will not have marked bays, so drivers will be asked to park considerately.