MOTOTISTS travelling to Basingstoke town centre could be set to pay more to park their vehicles when coming into the area.

Proposals put forward by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council seek to increase the price of parking permits in a number of the borough run car parks.

Currently people who use town centre car parks including Anchor Yard, Castons car park, Feathers Yard, Joices Yard, Red Lion Lane and Vyne Meadow car park currently pay £1,000 for an annual seven-day parking permit.

However, with the new proposals people will be paying an extra £30.

There has also been a proposed increase for the Crossborough Hill car park for an annual seven-day permit.

The proposal would see people paying and extra £13, increasing the price from £425 to £438.

In the long and short stay car parks which are run by the borough council there will be no change to the free one hour parking across the town centre.

Cabinet member for environment and enforcement at the borough council, Cllr Hayley Eachus said: “Parking permit schemes are very popular with residents and the council is responsible for the administration of 15 residents' on-street parking schemes in the borough.

“This small increase in charges, in line with inflation, was agreed by councillors in February. We carefully consider any increases to ensure that costs are affordable and competitive against other councils and providers and to balance this against the costs of running the service.”