MOTORISTS using Farnham's car parks can nearly all expect to pay more from March 31, as Waverley Council hikes charges by substantially above inflation with a view to raising an extra £360,000 a year from car parks across the borough. Only those who use the long-stay St James and Riverside car parks seem likely to escape the rises, expected to bring in an extra £193,000 from Farnham alone. The changes being considered by Waverley's executive next Tuesday comprise what the council says is its first comprehensive review of parking charges for five years. A report to the executive will point out that the Audit Commission has raised the need for Waverley to obtain a fair return on its considerable car park assets. The new fees, if eventually agreed, will see fees for prime site car parks, which include Central Car Park and the Lower Hart, increased from 60p an hour to 70p for the first hour, 80p for the second hour and £1 for subsequent hours. The strategy is intended to discourage longer stay parking, allowing a higher turnover of spaces. "It is not helpful to the public or to traders if no space is available and it is harmful to the environment if users have to queue or search for spaces," states the report. A simpler pricing structure of 50p an hour is proposed for the medium term car parks - Dogflud, Waggon Yard and Upper Hart - replacing the current charge of 40p for 45 minutes, 70p for two hours, £1 for three hours and 50p per hour thereafter. For South Street car park the suggested increase is from 50p an hour to 60p. Meanwhile season ticket holders using Waggon Yard and Upper Hart car parks stand to be hit with a £110 a year hike to £900 and those using contract parking will pay £990 - a rise of £90. The further bad news for motorists is that free parking after 6pm could come to an end in April 2009. The move has been considered and discounted this year, but charging for up to 8pm may well be introduced next year. "Increasingly many shops and supermarkets are open beyond this time, joined by restaurants opening in the evening catering for an affluent clientele," the exexcutive will be told. The review is not without some winners, however, for Waverley is being forced by national legislation to cut its penalty charges for both off-street and on-street enforcement. The penalty charge for failing to display a ticket, having an expired ticket or various other contraventions including parking in disabled bays, will be cut from £60 to £50 (and from £30 to £25 for those who pay within 14 days). The change is expected to cost Waverley £40,000 a year.