PARKING charges in many council-run car parks are set to freeze, but season ticket prices will increase.

During the day and on Sundays and Bank Holidays in borough council-run car parks in Basingstoke town centre charges will be frozen from April.

New parking charges come into effect from Sunday, 1 April, after being agreed by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in February.

But for most charges there will be no increase, with the freeze continuing to make them lower than those in other centres, with two hours in Basingstoke’s central car park costing £2, compared to up to £2.80 in Winchester and £4 in Reading.

There will be no increase in residents’ parking, visitors’ permits or to the pre-paid ParkCard tariff in long stay car parks.

However, season tickets will increase by an average of 4.2 per cent, depending on the car park.

This increase will contribute to the over £615,000 the council is investing to improve facilities in car parks, including new ticket machines.

Cabinet member for communities and community safety Cllr Simon Bound said: “The fact that most of the charges are frozen continues to make parking in Basingstoke competitive and support the borough’s position as a prime destination in which to live, work and do business.

“The council subsidises the free one-hour parking in the town centre and the on-street car parking services, which includes residential parking permits and parking enforcement. Any surpluses made from the charges in council car parks are reinvested in the parking service, including car parks, public transport, improvements and traffic management.”

Consultation is set to start later in the year on amendments to overnight charges. These have not changed in a number of years and are proposed to increase from £1 to £2 but to start one hour later at 7pm, meaning that the free one-hour parking in short stay car parks would be extended.