A parking strategy which could see a whopping 15 per cent increase in charges over three years in Poole, has been slammed as a “stealth tax”.

Poole council is considering a pricing strategy from 2010/11 to 2013/14 which assumes that parking fee income will increase annually by £250,000. This is in line with the council’s medium term financial plan, which is subject to annual reviews.

Councillors were asked to agree in principle to a report before the economy overview and scrutiny committee which set out the strategy.

“For the first time the proposals for changes to parking charges will have been devised in the context of a three-year time scale,” said the report from the head of transportation services, Julian McLaughlin.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Brian Clements, who proposed that charges should be frozen in line with the negative retail price index, said on a £5 million a year income that equated to a five per cent yearly increase.

“Planning a 15 per cent increase over the next three years betrays a complete disregard for the fragile state of the local economy,” he said.

“Residents and businesses will see it as nothing more than a stealth tax,” he added.

He said boat launching fees were likely to be upped by more than five per cent and “significant increases” in season ticket charges would hit workers and their employers.

“We should remember that this can encourage businesses to relocate from the town centre,” he said.

Steve Tite, principal manager at the council, said: “Final decisions on parking charges will be taken annually.

“The charges for next year are yet to be approved by councillors and will be considered by the transport advisory group on November 26.”

He added: “Poole has extremely competitive parking charges compared to other areas and is considered one of the most car-friendly towns in the country.”