PROTESTS that Waverley proposals to raise car park charges for the second time in 12 months to plug the borough’s £1.15 million budget shortfall are “utterly unacceptable”, were backed by councillors this week.

Waverley Borough Council’s ‘watchdog’ overview and scrutiny (O&S) committee took its opportunity to comment on plans to increase charges to £1 (now 90p) for the first hour at Lower Hart and Central car parks in Farnham on Monday.

The proposals, which also affect five of Waverley’s Godalming car parks, as well as two in both Cranleigh and Haslemere, are just some of a number of cost-cutting, income-generating schemes put forward to enable Waverley to offset a forecast budget shortfall for 2017 to 2018 of £1.15 million.

However, it comes just 12 months after Waverley last increased parking charges at its pay and display car parks, by an average of 7.5 per cent in Farnham, last January - and members of the O&S have warned any further cuts could be to the detriment of town centre retailers.

“This is such an easy hit,” said Carole Cockburn, councillor for The Bourne and leader of Farnham Town Council. “Putting the prices up and increasing the length of the day really hit retailers in Farnham.

“I’m very opposed to sticking on an extra 10p - we should look at it and work out what we are trying to achieve. Farnham is suffering from empty shops and I’m sure that’s replicated across the borough. We should tread carefully, we can’t take the easy way out.”

Jerry Hyman, party leader of Waverley’s opposition Farnham Residents group, added: “We did a review 13 months ago and the time went back to 6.30pm [reduced from 7pm]. That was the right thing to do but it was quite a large rise then.

“I’m surprised to see a proposal to put it up without a review of the increases made two years on the trot. We should try and save somewhere else so we are not hurting the shops.”

Joint O&S committee chairman and another Farnham Residents councillor, John Williamson, expressed solidarity with retailers in Haslemere who, prior to Monday night’s meeting, slammed the new parking charges as “utterly unacceptable”.

Speaking to The Herald last week, David Goddin, president of the Haslemere Chamber of Trade, said: “I appreciate the council is in a difficult position, trying to deliver world-class services to match public expectations – with government financial backing dwindling to nothing.

“But the council needs to learn from business that increasing prices is not a good solution to cash shortfalls. Similarly, raising short-term car park charges is not a good way to attract people to the town.

“The Chamber has long held the view that the council should be doing more to boost business – not raising barriers to trade by excessive taxing of shoppers and other visitors who come by car.

“The time has come for the council to look more creatively at its methods for financing service provision and stop treating motorists as cash cows.”

Mr Williamson added he hoped Waverley’s decision-making executive committee would take on board the “strong views” about increasing parking charges when agreeing which budget proposals to back on February 7.

However, the O&S was not universally opposed to the parking charges hike and, arguing for the increase, Farnham councillor Wyatt Ramsdale said: “The increases are aimed at the most expensive car parks.

“If we are not recovering all the costs of our car parks, we shouldn’t be subsidising drivers at the expense of those who don’t use cars. I can’t believe we are taking car drivers for a ride.”

Agreeing, Haslemere councillor Jim Edwards, who is Waverley’s portfolio holder for car parks, said: “The figures for usage since we put the fees up indicate it doesn’t seem to have deterred anyone in Haslemere. The car parks are full.

“Any increase in charges is not popular and it isn’t something we consider lightly, however the council has to consider raising charges in order to achieve savings over the next four years whilst continuing to deliver high quality services.”

Mr Edwards added any additional income raised from the potential increased charges will be invested back into the borough’s car parks “to ensure they’re maintained, welcoming and accessible”.

Members were told at the start of Monday’s meeting that Waverley faced a “serious budget shortfall principally caused by government cuts” and they would have to make “difficult decisions”.

Further cost-cutting proposals include:

• Increasing the garden waste collection service subscription fee by £10 to £60 per annum.

• Increasing building control fees, “based on review of service”.

• Investing in further commercial properties through the council’s recently-established Investment Advisory Board.

• A 10 per cent increase to car parking season tickets.

• A reduction in grants to Waverley’s town and parish councils.

Waverley also plans to increase its share of council tax for a Band D property, currently £167, by £5 - with Surrey County Council expected to announce an even greater council tax increase next week to meet its own budget pressures.

O&S feedback to Waverley’s budget proposals will be presented to the council’s decision-making executive committee on February 7 when members will be asked to approve the details of the financial strategy, with final ratification by full council on February 21.