WITH parking prices around Basingstoke set to rise following the recent budget approval, one publican is encouraging landlords to rent out their parking spaces to help commuters.

Morgan O’Kennedy, the landlord of The Great Western Hotel and Pub in Vyne Road has regularly been renting out his car park using Spacehopper, a new sharing economy marketplace headquartered in the town.

By allowing motorists and commuters to book spaces in his car park, over the last six months Mr O’Kennedy has been able to earn over £200 a month, cash which he reinvests into his business.

Mr O’Kennedy said: “This is a no-brainer for me. “A lot of my spaces sit empty at certain times of the week so I thought why not make some extra money?

“I’m close to the station, so we’re the perfect spot for commuters travelling up to London and elsewhere.”

As previously reported in The Gazette, following the approval of the budget for 2017/18 by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, allday parking fees will rise by 33 per cent.

Rather than this hike in prices driving people away from the town centre, Mr O’Kennedy is urging landlords to use Spacehopper as another way to get a form of income.

He added: “I’d encourage any landlord with spaces to think about it.

“The more spots you have the more money you can make.

“There seems no reason not to use Spacehopper.

“It is simple to sign up and the money just comes in without me having to do anything.”

Pubs near railway stations or close to town centres, shopping hubs or tourist attractions are particularly popular and stand to cash in, according to Spacehopper – a service that connects businesses and homeowners with vacant parking spaces with drivers who are looking for a place to park.

To find out more about how Scapehopper works visit spacehopper.com.