FARNHAM retailers are welcoming the possibility of Waverley Borough Council staging a trial pay-on-exit car parking system, which may result in shoppers spending longer in the town's shops.

The pilot scheme will be discussed at a Waverley Executive meeting next week and, if agreed, could be implemented in one of Farnham's central car parks for at least a year, after which time it would be up for review.

Both traders and shoppers believe the current pay-and-display system curtails spending activity by requiring users to pre-select the length of parking time.

The tendency of users is to select the minimum amount of time so that less unexpired parking time is wasted, which results in less shopping time.

Pay-on-exit would be a more flexible system, allowing users to return when they are ready rather than being constrained by time limits.

Entry to the car park would be controlled by an automatic barrier, issuing a ticket which records the time. Departure is barred by an automatic barrier which can be activated by payment at a pay station on leaving.

Town Initiative Manager Phyllida Adams believes the proposed pay-on-exit scheme would be welcomed by retailers and shoppers alike.

Referring to the Lockwood Report, Mrs Adams said findings in the survey proved that retail outlets perform better in towns where pay-on-exit car parks are in operation.

However, she feels the scheme may be less advantageous to Waverley itself: "Retailers will readily accept the scheme but Waverley will have to consider the financial implications.

"With a pay-and-display car park you will get a greater number of cars using the car park throughout the day than in a pay-on-exit park, where people will stay for much longer This could result in a loss of revenue."

Managing director of Elphicks Department Store, Stuart Palmer, said he would be greatly in favour of the system.

"I did a questionnaire for the retail forum about this matter two years ago and everyone I asked said they wanted to see a pay-on-exit car park.

"It would certainly reduce the number of aggravated customers who have to rush out the store because their ticket has expired. I think the tariffs should be about the same as the present ones, encouraging a short stay of no more than two hours, to keep a high turnover of people coming into the town centre."

Spokesperson for Waverley Borough Council Robin Ellks explained that Farnham is the first town, where the pilot scheme may be implemented. If successful, it could expand to other towns in the borough."

Mr Ellks added that Waverley would have to decide whether pay-on-exit parking, despite being advantageous to traders and shoppers, would justify the extra costs involved in implementing the scheme.

"With the pay-and-display there is tendency for people to rush back to their cars, which results in less time in the shops so this scheme would be far more flexible and understandably welcomed by retailers.

"It would be more expensive to run because it requires full- time staff, but if there is a significant increase in retailers' revenue we will have to take this into consideration."

The pay-and-display system has already been identified as the most efficient and economic method of charging for parking time in small and medium size car parks.

The costs of converting to pay-on-exit is estimated at around £50,000 a year, £45,000 of which is needed to fund a permanent staff presence incase of maintenance problems.

However, a financial advantage to pay-on-exit system would be that all the parking time used is paid for, unlike the pay-and-display system where revenue is often lost due to non or under payment for time parked.