THEY are controversial and have attracted criticism from residents, traders, and one of the city's MPs From today week drivers who wish to park longer than five hours in long stay car parks at Bitterne, Portswood, Shirley and Woolston face a charge of £5.

The new charges were first agreed at last year's council budget setting meeting and are finally due to come into force today.

City transport bosses say that the new scheme will prevent commuters from using the car parks as informal park and ride car parks into the city centre and will free up spaces for shoppers in the district centres.

Opposed However some traders argue that the new charging scheme will deter people from shopping in the districts and will make it more difficult for staff to come to work.

Butcher Fred Webb, who works at John Wildman Butcher in Shirley High Street, told the Daily Echo he was opposed to the new scheme.

He added that the charges would deter people from coming to Shirley - especially in the crucial run up to Christmas. He said: "People have not got time to shop here for just a couple of hours.

"It has been free to park here for as long as I can remember.

"Now, there are double yellow lines everywhere. I do think it will hit trade at Christmas.

"Where do we go to park if we work here?

"Do the council want us to walk to work or something?"

His comments were backed by Louise Park, manager of the Hungry Diner in Shirley High Street.

She said: "From a staff point of view, it is going to be difficult for one of them to park. I think it was fine as it was. I don't think there was any need to change it."

However, Phil Rolf from Jim Rolf Fruit and Veg told the Daily Echo that he thought the new scheme was an "excellent" idea.

He said: "I do think it frees up the car parks for customers which is what they were meant for anyway. At the moment, the car parks are always full up."

Criticism The new charges have also been criticised by Southampton Itchen MP John Denham who claims that the new scheme will hit local residents.

He said: "Wanting to free up spaces for shoppers may be desirable but these new charges will also hit local residents.

"When this scheme was first proposed, I was contacted by a group of residents in Bitterne who park their cars in the long stay car park.

"As there is no parking immediately adjacent to their homes, they will now have to park in neighbouring streets, which could well cause knock-on difficulties for the people living there.

"I suggested that this small number of local residents could be given free or discounted parking permits.

"Few of them would be leaving their cars there all day but it seemed only fair that they should be allowed to when they needed to without fear of exceeding the five hour limit.

"Unfortunately, the council did not agree and has pressed ahead with a policy of charging everyone who stays no matter what the reason."

Councillor Jill Baston, Southampton City Council's Cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "These parking charges have been introduced to ensure local residents can park at their local district centre when they need to.

"By adding this charge we hope to stop people using district centre car parks as unofficial park and rides' to the city centre and free them up for genuine shoppers."

The following car parks will be affected by the new charging scheme: Bitterne District Centre - Angel Crescent (116 spaces), Lance's Hill (74 spaces) and Whites Road (27 spaces). Portswood District Centre - Westridge Road (88 spaces); Shirley District Centre - Howard's Grove (48 spaces) and Marlborough Road North (87 spaces); Woolston District Centre - Oakbank Road (88 spaces) and Portsmouth Road (55 spaces).

For further information on car parking in the city and parking charges, visit www.southampton.gov.uk, e-mail parking.services@southampton.gov.uk or call 023 8083 4600.