CONTROVERSIAL town centre and district car parking charge hikes will come into effect next month, it has been confirmed.

Borough of Poole (BOP) has published a list of the new charges as part of the official notice required ahead of any changes.

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Businesses slammed the council’s decision to increase town centre parking charges when it was made earlier this year.

They argued the increases would drive people away from the town centre, at a time when members of Poole’s Business Improvement District (BID) were working hard to increase footfall.

Parking campaigner Bob Lister, who organised a number of petitions fighting parking charge proposals last year, said: “I still cannot understand this decision.

“Everyone seems to be working hard to revitalise the town centre and then the council does something like this. How will increasing parking charges attract more people to Poole?”

When the decision was made to increase town centre pay and display charges, earlier this year, Poole BID director Gabi Naish described the move as a “a stab in the back.”

From April 3 parking charge rates at BOP’s town centre car parks will increase to £1 an hour, from 80p.

The £1.50 flat rate for Sunday parking will also be replaced with Monday to Saturday rates - and a £2 evening/overnight flat charge after 10pm will be introduced.

Currently, one hour’s parking at Borough of Poole (BOP) district car parks in areas such as Ashley Road, Ashley Cross, Broadstone, Canford Cliffs and Penn Hill, cost 40p an hour, rising to £1.30 for a three hour stay.

However, fees will rise to £1 for an hour, £1.50 for two hours, then £3.50 for three.

Annual season ticket holders for Poole’s district car parks will also see their £225 season tickets rise to £500.