SUNDAY parking charges will come into force in Winchester for the first time, council chiefs have ruled.

The £2 flat fee was rubberstamped by the city council’s traffic and parking committee yesterday.

It was the final obstacle to introducing the charge, after Cabinet members gave their backing in October.

Business chiefs, traders and churches had expressed concerns about the plans, which apply to all central short-stay car parks.

The council received more than 40 letters about the changes, most of which opposed them.

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As a result, it agreed to delay the introduction of the charges until February 6, 2011.

It was also decided to charge less than originally proposed for short stay visits to district car parks.

At the moment, the first hour in council car parks in Bishop’s Waltham, Alresford and Wickham costs 30p.

This will now be 40p, rather than the proposed 50p.

However, all-day charges in the towns will go up to £2 rather than the £1.50 originally suggested.

The Winchester car parks charging on Sunday will be Middle Brook, Upper Brook, Jewry and Colebrook Streets, Friarsgate, Cossack Lane, The Brooks Centre and St Peters.

Long stay car parks further from the retail district – such as Tower and Chesil Streets – will remain free.

The Liberal Democrat-run council said that it had to introduce Sunday charges, or make up the shortfall in parking revenue elsewhere.

It has also been decided that a review of on-street parking will look to keep spaces open for residents.

As it stands, Sunday shoppers could park in residents’ bays to avoid the incoming charges, but the council is looking to close the loophole.