WAVERLEY car park users can look forward to an extra half-hour of free parking – but not until the new year.

Plans to reduce the end of the charging period from 7pm to 6.30pm in all of its car parks across the borough were rubber stamped last week.

The decision which is set to cost Waverley £40,000 in lost income from its pay-and-display car parks, in Haslemere and Farnham, would, claimed a report to the meeting, contribute towards the “continued vitality” of the borough’s town centres.

“The improved availability and good management of parking spaces is vital to the town centres and local shops and to thriving communities,” said the report.

“Proper considered management and charging arrangements can positively influence the length of stay and traffic movement, and help to reduce the level of congestion in a town centre.”

It is also hoped to maximise the use of car parks and reduce unnecessary car journeys caused by motorists looking for spaces.

Members of the Waverley executive committee also agreed at a previous meeting to continue with free parking on Thursday afternoons from 3pm to the end of the charging period, across all of its car parks throughout December.

With 25 pay-and-display and eight free car parks within the borough, the latest moves were contained within the 2015 review which followed similar exercises carried out in 2011, when controversial charges up until 7pm were first introduced amid claims it would hurt residents’ parking.

But WBC’s generosity to motorists is likely to be short lived with car parking charges set to rise in line with the Retail Prices Index, next year. It is also planned that some long-stay car parks with short stay options, will increase from £4 to £5.