MOTORISTS look set to pay more to park in some town centre car parks from as early as next month.
Under changes that will come into effect on either December 1 or January 1, depending on when they are ratified by Waverley's full council, motorists will pay 70p for two hours' parking in town centre car parks where the two-hour charge is currently 60p.
The changes, agreed by Waverley's executive committee on Tuesday night, but which need full council ratification, will also see the Lower Hart car park become a so-called "prime site", with charges of 60p per hour applying, up from the current 40p for 45 minutes, 60p for up to two hours, 40p for a third hour and 50p every subsequent hour.
The council believes the higher charge will encourage longer-stay users currently using the Lower Hart to switch to the Upper Hart car park.
The Upper Hart car park will see the introduction of a 40p charge for up to 45 minutes parking. An charge of 70p for up to two hours - already in operation on Saturdays - will also be introduced Monday-to-Friday, to eliminate confusion among motorists who fail to read the charges correctly.
The parking increases will allow the council to raise an extra £165,000, compenasting for an £130,000 shortfall in revenue anticipated because of the reduced use of car parks near the now closed Farnham health centre.