Drivers in Gloucestershire are facing a big increase in charges for using council-run car parks.

Stroud District Council has announced that the charges will double in some cases.

The council has defended the rise in car parks in Stroud, Stonehouse and Painswick saying it is the first increase for six years.

In Stonehouse and Painswick, the first hour of parking will rise by 20 pence an hour to 40 pence, whilst parking all day will increase from £2.00 to £2.50 a day.

Stroud's, long stay car parks will see increases of 20 pence for the first hour of parking, from 60 pence to 80 pence, and see all day parking increase from £2.50 to £3.00.

Councillor Steve Lydon, leader of Stroud District Council said: ""Nobody likes paying more for anything, so we know that increasing parking charges isn't going to be popular.

"However, we are confident that the modest increases at Stroud, Stonehouse and Painswick will not have a negative impact on shops and businesses, which is supported by national experience and research."

He added: "Parking charges haven't changed since 2011, but since then costs for utilities and maintenance have risen and we've invested and continue to invest in improvements.

"In 2018, we plan to trial the first electric car charging point and review the provision for secure cycle and motorcycle parking. Even with the increases, the charges remain some of the lowest in Gloucestershire."

The new charges come in to effect on Thursday 26th October.

Over the next year the council will also be consulting on the possibility of charging in some of its other larger car parks, including Dursley, Nailsworth, Stratford Park, Minchinhampton and Wotton-under-Edge.

Readers' comments:

Mike Lawrence:

I've just bought a pack of oil proof gasket material - just a couple of £s.  Five years ago I would have gone to the DIY place down the road in Stroud. Apart from the cost of the material there's even now a charge of £1.40 to park while you get something. The gasket material came by post from an on-line source. Same with a computer controlled sewing machine, some rugs, a router and a small table in the last few weeks.

The question now is not can the High Street survive but should it!!