Reading last night's (24th March)  Gazette,  I saw the new car parking charges to come into effect on April 11th 2008.  They made interesting reading. 

The 1 hour charge has gone up a staggering 25% from £1.20 to £1.50. 

In Chapel Street Car Park the 2 hour rate shows an increase of 36% from £2.20 to £3.00 and the 4 hour rate comes top with an increase of 59%, from £4.40 to £7.00

The 4 hour rate in Talbot Road multi-storey has increased by 33% from £1.50 to £2.00.

Admittedly there are a few which have not changed,  being those for 24 hours and over, and 3 even that have come down.  

But, in the main, it is the shorter stay parker who will carry the brunt of these swinging increases.

Dateline 24th April 2008  -  well I never - did my letter in the Gazette cause a rethink - no it was the many residents who made their opinions known but credit where it is due.  The car park charges have been reviewed and meaningful changes made.

The only question now is which other services will suffer to make up the lost income from reduced parking fees???  I don't believe the increased usage will take up this slack