A "straightforward money-grabbing exercise that has no concern for the local economy" is how a Tory borough councillor branded the proposed hike in Waverley car parking charges.

As opposition to the new charges grew in Haslemere this week, the new Lib Dem-controlled council agreed to refer the matter back to another committee for wider debate, before it returns to the council's decision-making executive at the end of the month.

Last week it met to decide whether to impose the new charges, some of which would come into effect as early as November.

If implemented, it would mean some short-term car parking charges rising by as much as 20 per cent and several long-term car parks at Tanners Lane and Weydown Road by a third, from £420 to £560 a year.

This week, the chairman of Haslemere Chamber of Trade, Melanie Odell, said she was "disappointed" in the proposed rise in short-stay car parking.

"It is always an issue for those visiting the town and discourages shoppers," said Mrs Odell.

And she added: "I cannot see the point in raising the tariffs in Tanners Lane when is is completely under-utilised.

"Shouldn't they decrease the amount to encourage commuters to use the car park instead of clogging up the roads?" she asked.

"Motorists would not be averse to parking in the car park if it was a sensible price, and some revenue would be better than empty spaces," believed Mrs Odell, who still would like to see a pay-as-you-leave car parking policy adopted.

"The current proposals don't help the town at all," she declared.

"We don't have enough commuter car parking, with drivers coming from Horsham, Liphook, and Midhurst because of our fast train service. Our roads are being used by people who don't use the town and don't live here and that is no use to the vitality of Haslemere," said Mrs Odell, who would like to see Haslemere treated as a special case

She also called on Waverley to provide a more affordable car parking policy for commuters and long-stay vehicles.

She said: "The town is crying our for a multi-storey car park at the station, two storeys with a nice line of shops at the front to draw the town together. It was promised in the 1960s and never happened."

Derby Road and Weydown Road Residents' Association has also protested about the proposed increases in a letter to Waverley Borough Council.

"More cars will be left on our streets from early morning to late at night - some for days on end," said Ted Hawkes, the secretary of the residents' association.

Hitting out at the Lib Dems' plans, Tory Richard Gates said of the "money-grabbing exercise" that it was not included in the Lib Dems' manifesto and there had been no mention of consultation.

Leader of the minority Conservatives, David Harmer, said that by having the matter referred to the executive first, the overview and scrutiny committees had been "fettered".

During discussions about a separate item on the agenda, but with reference to the car parking debate, Waverley's deputy leader Stewart Edge, who referred the matter to the environment and corporate overview and scrutiny committees, conceded that there had been "hiccups" in the way the Lib Dems have handled some procedural matters.

Reasons given for the proposed increases include having to draw from reserves to balance the budget which exceeds its income by £400,000, which say the Lib Dems "cannot be sustained indefinitely".