TRADERS at Lymington Quay are hopping mad about council plans to increase charges in the town's amenity car parks.

The scale of fees is to rise by between 9.1 and 11.1 per cent in the period between March and October 2003/2004.

The steepest increase will be in the cost of all-day parking, which hits a new high of £5.

Businesses are still reeling from the effect of last spring's £850,000 refurbishment to the Quay.

Gareth Trout, manager of the Ship Inn, believes the parking fees are affecting his trade.

"I think it's disgusting to raise them any more," he said.

"People are being put off from eating here as they are worried that their parking ticket is going to run out."

Claire Jones, who used to run a beauty salon in Quay Hill, said parking charges were one of the reasons she changed to a mobile business.

"Parking fees are making people nervous about doing business here," she said.

"My clients often parked elsewhere and walked down."

Owner of the Quayhole gift shop Susanne Ansell said she thought the charges did not compare favourably with other towns.