Poole shoppers are facing a triple whammy of parking charge rises, facing three in nine months.

Borough of Poole is due to hike charges twice in five months to fill a black hole in the budget, while it is likely costs will rise yet again with VAT hitting 20 per cent in January.

Fears have been raised that the two five per cent increases will badly affect retailers at a time when footfall numbers are generally falling in the town.

“The proposed increase so soon after those made in April is not reasonable when shops are already suffering,” said Grosvenor, owner of the Dolphin Centre in a consultation response.

“A further unwelcome burden will encourage shoppers to go elsewhere. Car park user numbers fell by 2.3 per cent from 2008 to 2009, with further reductions already being experienced this year.”

Poole Tourism Management Board said: “The economic climate is fragile and Poole does not want a reputation of being unaffordable.”

Poole Town Centre Management Board objected to two increases in five months. “Car parks are seen as scruffy and dull, therefore no perceived increase in quality or value.”

The two increases come after Borough of Poole decided to move to raising charges in the autumn, having already set the spring increase.

An additional £370,000 needs to be raised in 2010/11 from parking charges – however, April’s charges netted £250,000.

A further £120,000 needs to be made from proposed rises in September.

“We realise that increasing parking charges is never going to be popular but with the pressure on council finances unfortunately rises are inevitable although our charges still compare favourably with other areas and we believe that they remain reasonable,” said Julian McLaughlin, head of transportation services.

Town centre multi-storeys next to the Dolphin Centre will rise from 80p to 90p an hour and district car park charges will rise by 10p an hour to 30p under proposals due to go before the transportation advisory group on July 1.