PLANS to cut free Christmas parking in Christchurch while also increasing other car park charges have been described as "troubling" and "retrograde".

Christchurch council are forging ahead with plans to raise the charges, despite some concerns raised by residents.

And they plan to ditch free Christmas parking in the town, saying it is not affordable.

As well as increasing the cost of permits by two per cent, the council wants to double the overnight parking charge from £1 to £2.

And they have refused a request for overnight parking charges to start at 6pm, which was suggested in a bid to encourage people to have a meal in town before a show at the Regent Centre.

Objections were raised by Mike Collard, from Stanpit and Mudeford Residents' Association, John Teather, chairman of Regent Centre board of directors and a local resident.

In his response to the council, Mr Collard said: "Coming at a time when we are being asked to consider plans to improve and rejuvenate the High Street, this move seems to be retrograde and counter-productive."

And Mr Teather described the council's reasoning as "troubling".

The Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce also called for the free Christmas parking to stay.

Charges for three and four hours’ parking in Bridge Street could see an increase of 10p for three hours and 20p for four hours.

And at beach amenity car parks at Avon Beach and Mudeford Quay, it is proposed to change the tariff periods, with charges for parking at Avon Run Road raised to bring them into line with Avon Beach car park.

Cllr Trevor Watts, chairman of the resources committee, said the cuts are due to reductions in the grant from central government.

He added: "The council has had to undertake a lot of work on car parks in recent months and it is essential that this is funded from car park charges.

"We have also considered charges made by neighbouring authorities and believe our proposed increases will bring us in line with, or in some cases behind, their charges."

Work is due to take place at car parks at Mudeford Quay, Highcliffe Cliff Top, Mayor's Mead, Steamer Point and Bank Close.

He said the small amount of consultation responses 'led them to believe the increases are considered reasonable.'

Cllr Watts added: "Unlike some other local authorities, we will continue to support Christmas in Christchurch by funding the Christmas lighting to the tune of some £21,000 but unfortunately if we continued to provide the free parking period we would have to look at making savings elsewhere, which is not sustainable given the current economic climate."