INFLATION-busting parking charge increases were back in the political arena on Tuesday night when the Lib Dem-controlled Waverley Borough Council decided to go ahead with its new tariffs, despite fierce opposition from local traders.
The charges, some of which are in excess of 20 per cent, and more than six times the cost of inflation, are set to be implemented in the busy period of pre-Christmas shopping, in Waverley-owned car parks in Haslemere and across the borough.
They have have been condemned by the Mayor of Haslemere, Michael Foster, and traders, who see the charges as a retrograde step in keeping shoppers coming to Haslemere when they have the option of shopping in nearby towns with free or cheaper car parking.
The president of the Chamber of Trade, Melanie Odell, called the decision to bring in the new charges on Monday, December 1 as "preposterous".
Political feathers flew at Tuesday night's full council meeting when the Lib Dems defended their car parking policy.
The Conservative group called the rises "an outrage" and warned that it "will damage local businesses".
"These rises are being forced through without consultation, despite the fact that the Liberal Democrats admit themselves that this will have a negative effect on the number of people using the borough's car parks.
"Traders fear that this will result in a reduction in the use of the borough car parks and in turn decrease the numbers of visitors to the town", the group said in a statement after the meeting.
Leader of the minority Conservative group, David Harmer, said: "Waverley's objective should not be to maximise its car park income, but to optimise the economy of the borough.
"We are supposed to be a Beacon Council for supporting the rural economy. This rise in car park charges will affect trade," he continued.
Lib Dems in turn accused the Tories of "hijacking" the public question time, claiming that they had "fed members of the public with narrow party-political questions".
Prospective Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Simon Cordon, claimed that questions on car parking charges "were clearly co-ordinated and set up by the Conservatives".
Short-stay parking will rise by five pence for up to three-quarters of an hour to 40 pence in the High Street and Chestnut Avenue car park, and increase to 60 pence for the first two hours in both car parks
From next April, season ticket holders will also feel the pinch, with prices rising from £420 a year to a massive £560 in Tanners Lane and Weydown Road car parks, while in the High Street the price will rise by £50 to £790 a year.
In Chestnut Avenue, the season ticket price will stay the same at £460.
Speaking on Wednesday, the president of Haslemere and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Melanie Odell denounced the rises as "disgusting".
She reiterated an idea the chamber put forward to the council "at least two years ago as part of an holistic car parking scheme for the area".
Mrs Odell said: "We offered to ensure that Waverley had a better income from the car parks than at present," referring to Tanners Lane and Weydown Road car parks, which remain under-used, while cars clog up the town's streets and residential roads.
The suggestion was that Waverley could sell car parking spaces to the chamber which would then be sold on to chamber members, for their staff.
"We never heard back, despite having been asked for our view at the time," said Mrs Odell.
"It would mean Waverley would get more money, and the community would benefit by getting cars off the streets."
Mrs Odell hoped that Waverley would now re-consider the idea.