Residents may have to pay to park in Chichester at night and on Sundays

In an attempt to increase the council's income drivers may have to pay to park in Chichester's city centre car parks in the evenings and on Sundays.

Chichester District Council voted in October 2009 on whether to bring in Sunday charges but it was voted 17-13 against with 12 abstentions and this was despite a recommendation by its executive board. The main reason for the voting against in 2009 was warnings that the city may lose its "special Sunday feeling". With the council still under increasing financial pressure however, they are once again set to consider a number of possible ways of increasing parking charges.

On top of the evening and Sunday charges, the council are also considering overnight charges and a number of other options in attempt to increase the authority's income by between £472,000 and £683,000. The options include introducing a £1 for four hours or £2 for a day on Sundays in the city's central car parks which could in itself provide a minimum added income of £175,000. 

The council are also looking to increase the number of parking spaces fairly drastically with a potential of introducing 195 spaces in the city centre. This is all bearing in mind that given the growing population of the city, a study undertaken by consultants had estimated that a further 500 spaces would be needed in the city centre by 2018. 

The final decision on all the proposals will be made by the full council.

Obviously this comes as pretty bad news for Chichester residents but if the council are that desperate for money then I suppose they may have little choice in the matter. What do you think about the proposals? I'm sure we all await the decision with anticipation!