East Coast Pirates says new charges are 'unaffordable'

East Coast Pirates meets on the first and third Sundays of every month outside Joyland American Family Diner on Marine Parade in Great Yarmouth.

The event shows off rare and customised vehicles and brings visitors into the town.

But organisers are now negotiating with council officers over proposals to introduce a licence application fee and a hire charge for events held on land owned by Town Hall.

The council is introducing the new charges as part of efforts to boost its finances in order to plug a £2.2m deficit.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is introducing new fees and charges to plug a £2.2m deficit. (Image: Denise Bradley)

The fees are scheduled to begin on April 1. For small commercial events of up to 500 people, the cost is £300, with an application fee of £60.

But a post on East Coast Pirates' Facebook page said the proposed cost structure was "unaffordable".

Organisers were meeting this week with council officers as part of a "concerted effort" to resolve the situation.

The group was started 18 years ago by Steve Skinner, who runs it along with his wife Miranda.

A spokesperson for Great Yarmouth Borough Council said: ‘’The council has recently set the annual fees and charges for 2024/25, which now include rates for events on council land.

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"The fee is calculated according to the size of the event and which classification it falls into.

"If there are any concerns or queries relating to event fees, we would urge the event organiser make contact with the council to discuss the situation," the spokesperson added.

The next two East Coast Pirates meets are still going ahead. They take place on Sunday, March 24, and Easter Sunday, March 31, from 10am onwards.

Previous events have seen cars such as the Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette and Pontiac Firebird.