The battle over Bournemouth’s parking charges is set to go to the wire.

The Bournemouth Daily Echo has been turning attention to the issue with its own Pay and Dismay campaign.

It is urging councillors not to introduce big increases in parking charges because traders fear they could drive customers away.

The paper joined forces with angry store bosses in Bournemouth to encourage staff, customers and thousands of other people affected, to lobby the council against the proposals.

Car parking charges are set to rise in April, and would hit all-day shoppers and commuters, as a stay of more than four hours could rise from £3.80 to between £4 and £5.

Permit holders would also suffer as car owners who live in Bournemouth and hold general permits, enabling them to park in the majority of town centre car parks, would face a massive increase from £360 a year to £500.

A last-ditch attempt to keep car parking fees down has been made by Councillor Dennis Gritt, who submitted a motion to the local council asking it reconsider the proposed price increases.

Transport and Works Committee members have already voted for a compromise worth hundreds of pounds a year to some commuters, but Coun Gritt believes the revised charges do not go far enough.

The topic will be debated at a full council meeting tomorrow.

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