PARKING charges at the Waverley-run pay and display car parks in Farnham have increased by an average of seven-and-a-half per cent.

The new charges, as well as a reduction in charging hours by 30 minutes, came into effect on Monday, January 18, after an announcement by Waverley Borough Council in November.

It sees charges increase by 10p for the first hour and varying amounts after that, an represents the council’s first pay-and-display increase since 2012.

The new charges are valid from Monday to Saturday between 8am and 6.30pm, reduced from 7pm.

All 25 council-run car parks across Waverley are affected including Central, Dogflud, Farnham Leisure Centre, Lower Hart, Riverside 1, 2 and 3, South Street, St James, Upper Hart and Waggon Yard in Farnham.

Central and Lower Hart (Waitrose) car parks remain the most expensive in Farnham - at 90p for one hour, £1.80 for two hours then rising by £1.10 an hour to £18.70 for the full day.

The cheapest short stay car parks are Dogflud and Upper Hart at 60p per hour, while the cheapest long stays are Riverside 1, 2 and 3 - costing 70p for one hour, £1 for two, £3.50 for three to five hours and £4 for the full day.

The increased tariffs are expected to generate an additional £200,000 per year for the council, adding to the £3.3 million Waverley received in pay and display charges in the last financial year (2014/15).

Season ticket charges will also increase, generating a further £24,000 per year.

Waverley was asked by the Farnham Chamber of Commerce and Fabulous Farnham, both representing retailers and small businesses in Farnham, in November to reduce the charging period further to 6pm to boost businesses in the town centre.

However, the council rejected the request as it would result in a reduction in income of £40,000 and “cannot be recommended as a financially sustainable way forward”.

Recommending the changes last year, councillor Kevin Deanus, responsible for operational services, said: “The parking prices haven’t gone up since February 2012 but since then inflation has risen by 7.5 per cent.

“Even with a tariff increase, Waverley car parks remain cheaper than many other council car parks, so people would still get an excellent deal.”