People driving into Southampton city centre will have to pay more to park after councillors agreed to hike parking charges.

New tariffs for off-street and on-street parking will rise by up to 66 per cent after the city council’s cabinet approved the plans on Tuesday afternoon.

This is the first time pay tariffs in the city centre have been increased in 10 years.

In a cabinet meeting chaired by council leader Satvir Kaur, the proposals were unanimously voted in.

Councillor Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for transport, described the increases as "fair and proportionate".

"The increases do still allow for us to provide a very competitive offer for those wanting to park in the city centre," he said.

READ MORE: Council reveals plans to hike parking charges in Southampton

Addressing concerns raised by city centre churches regarding the introduction of Sunday parking charges, Cllr Keogh said: “We have got the five for five bus ticket that will be reintroduced on November 18 and this will hopefully encourage some church members to consider this.

“We are also encouraging some churches to consider travel plans to better understand how members travel into the city centre.”

The new tariffs will be in place between 8am and 8pm for on-street parking and 8am and midnight for off-street.

This means it will no longer be cheaper to park between 6pm and 8pm.

The tariffs form part of the council’s plans to achieve net-zero carbon by 2035.

Cllr Keogh said: “As a city we have a local transport plan that has three key strategic goals.

“The first is to make the Southampton transport successful. The second is a system for everyone, meaning the network makes our places of work, study, and leisure safer, accessible and attractive, however you get around.

“The third is a better way to travel.

“Our residents are encouraged to consider methods of transport that improve the health and wellbeing and support our corporate goal of achieving net-zero.”

Councillor Jeremy Moulton, deputy leader of the Conservative group, was fiercely opposed to the plans.

Speaking on the decision, he said: "Labour’s anti motorist parking hikes threaten the city centre economy and jobs, as some people will go out of town in the evening.

"There is also a risk for the council that people will park in cheaper private car parks like Westquay and this won’t bring in the income they are seeking to fill the coffers after their years of reckless spending."

Cllr Kaur confirmed a review of the roll-out may be conducted in six months’ time if necessary.