It would also remove 14 parking spaces at the front of the pier—including five disabled bays—to improve the pedestrian approach to the pavilion and create space for seating. Southwold Town Council objected warning that the extra height would harm the character of the seafront. “The pier is a key visual asset on the seafront, and the additional height will impact the character of the area,” the council said. They concluded that the neighbouring car park had sufficient capacity to accommodate hotel guests and drivers displaced by the removed spaces. The town council suggested that fewer, better quality rooms, alongside the retention of community facilities and on-site parking, might be a way forward.