Charleston County councilman won't vote yes on beach community projects over parking

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Calls to defund the coastal communities in Charleston County have been rising since Isle of Palms and Folly Beach began restricting access to parking.

Officials say this was in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, but one Charleston County councilman says now that that excuse isn't enough.

“They want county to come in there and fix the roads, fix other things, provide EMS, provide helicopters, provide sheriff, but they want to have the beach to themselves. That’s unacceptable. I will vote against any moneys requested to be spent out there," said Councilman Brantley Moody in support of putting pressure on beach communities to lessen restrictions.

More: 'It's illegal': petition calls for Charleston Co. to defund beaches amid restricted access

A petition with thousands of signatures has also been signed in support of the defunding of these communities. One of the people behind it says it's for the people living in the county.

“They’re asking for money from all of the people in South Carolina who pay taxes but restricting our access to the beach. There are 600,000-plus people who live in the Tri-County area, all of whom use these beaches and they have been able somehow for a period of weeks to cut off access to the public?" Michael Barnett, whose father helped write the petition, said.

As of now, the entire County Council isn't vocally in support of voting down all projects on the beach communities, but Moody says many other council members feel the same as he does.