FEARS have been raised of another hike in parking charges after the icy blast last December sent a chill through the coffers of Poole’s parking income.

Six days of snow and icy roads kept shoppers and visitors away from the borough’s car parks and income plummeted as sharply as the temperatures.

The expected £66,000 shortfall for the month has added to the overall forecast deficit of £523,125 for the year and led to fears that charges will again be hiked up.

Last year hard-pressed motorists, already suffering from record fuel prices, faced three rises in nine months, two of which were five per cent increases within five months.

Cllr Brian Clements, Liberal Democrat, said motorists will still be contributing over £2m from parking charges and the cabinet member for transport, Ron Parker, should reconsider his suggestion that council tax payers will be subsidising motorists if he does not further increase charges.

And Cllr Clements said a report before cabinet also mooted an end to the Christmas parking concession. In 2010 five free Sunday parking days were offered, as well as Christmas Eve and Boxing Day and five late night Thursdays.

The council forwent £77,000 in parking fees.

Liberal Democrats introduced the seasonal free parking to help residents and businesses, Cllr Clements said.

“Some businesses take as much as 40 per cent of their annual income at that time of year and we should not be encouraging shoppers to switch to out of town shopping where parking is free,” he said.

Cllr Ron Parker, cabinet member for transportation, said: “There are no plans to increase parking charges this April.

“However the council is under considerable financial pressure and we cannot rule out reviewing charges later in the year.

“We understand the pressures on motorists and the potential for adverse impact on traders by increasing any charges in our town centre car parks or withdrawing free parking at Christmas, and any decisions we do make will have to bear this in mind.”