ALTON car park users were bracing themselves on Wednesday as East Hampshire District Council's cabinet prepared to impose yet another hike in season ticket charges. The proposal on the table was to increase the cost of an annual season ticket from £560 to £620 in town centre car parks in both Alton and Petersfield, representing a rise over the past two years of 29 per cent. However, season tickets for peripheral car parks should only go up by £20 from April 1 next year to reflect the lower daily charge. At present, the season ticket fee does not take account of the different charges applied in central car parks where the daily fee is £5 and peripheral sites which charge £4 for a day's parking. The aim is to increase the cost of town centre car park season tickets over the next four years until they "buy" the same number of days as the peripheral car parks. As from next year town centre car park season ticket holders will "buy" 24 days at £5, while peripheral car park users will "buy" 145 days at £4. These payments will increase on an annual basis over the next four years until both sets of users will be paying for 160 days, increasing to 165 days in 2010. According to parking and highways manager Ian Eyres, the daily charge rates are to be reviewed in January, paving the way for an even greater increase in season ticket prices. Another proposal to be considered by cabinet was for an increase in the standard charge rate for infringement of car parking regulations which was set in 2003 at £60, reducing to £30 if paid within 14 days. The new proposals would increase the standard charge to £90, with a reduction to £60 if paid within 28 days and to £30 if paid within 14 days. The increase would enable the council to meet the cost of reclaiming the money using bailiffs, without penalising people who pay promptly.
