A INCREASE in residents' parking charges dubbed a "poll tax on parking" has been suspended, Winchester's civic chief has confirmed.

The cost of permits for Hampshire motorists had been set to rise by as much as 246 per cent after Hampshire County Council approved a move to fund services.

The new increased charges would have seen Winchester residents with a car paying £50 a year, more than double their current £22 fee.

Now, Winchester City Council leader Cllr Caroline Horrill says she has struck a deal with the county to halt the rise, which was due to come into effect from next month.

Cllr Horrill said: "I am delighted to announce good sense prevails for the city’s residents."

"The county had wanted to take over responsibility for on-street permits, which the city council has overseen on an agency basis. However, we have our have our movement strategy in development and I argued it was essential that all parking matters are linked to it."

Following the agreement, the changes have been suspended while the movement strategy is developed, then both council will reassess the future of on-street parking charges.

Cllr Horrill added: “This rise in on-street permit parking charges was substantial and would have been bad for residents and business so I’m delighted.

“Moving forward this gives us time to examine the whole issue with the county council, how it fits within the movement strategy and how we can remain in control of administrating the scheme while in the meantime, residents and businesses will not pay a penny more.”

As previously reported, the increase was proposed in a bid to run the service on 'full cost recovery basis', and not be subsidised by the district’s on-street parking accounts – which are partly made up of cash from fines and tickets.

It also meant residents who currently don’t have to pay for a permit, as they were living in zones before they were introduced, would have had to cough up.

Speaking in October when the move was announced opposition Liberal Democrat city and county councillor Martin Tod said there are “better ways” of plugging council finances.

He said: “A whole number (of residents) have been asked to vote on extending parking control zones on the basis it costs £22. I think there’s been a breach of trust here.

“The problem of doing it on the first permit, it doesn’t take any account of how well-off someone is.

“It’s a poll tax on parking.”