Huntingdonshire District Council members have given the go-ahead for a public consultation on a proposal to increase parking charges.

At a meeting of the authority’s cabinet last Thursday (October 20), members agreed that residents and businesses should be given a chance to have their say on the proposals, which could see the cost of parking rise by more than 30 per cent in places.

Currently, the council earns £2.5million each year in parking charges and, if the plans are given the go-ahead following the consultation, it could collect a further £250,000 by 2020.

Under the plans, rates could rise by 20p in short stay car parks and 30p for long stay parking.

If the proposals are rubber-stamped the hourly rate would rise from between 40p-80p to 60p-£1, while a four-hour ticket will increase from £1.20-£3.20 to £1.50-£3.50.

The review could also see an increase to season tickets of 33 per cent from £300 to £400 and by 30 per cent for resident parking permits from £100 to £130.

As a part of the recommendation members also ordered for an overall review of car parking to take place, which will be conducted by the executive councillor for operational resources Councillor Darren Tysoe and head of operations Neil Sloper with the assistance of overview and scrutiny panel for economy and growth.

The review of car parking services is set to include the infrastructure used by the council including parking metres and the potential for barriers to be installed in some car parks.

The consultation is set to begin later this week and chosen organisations will be contacted by the council to have their say.