DRIVERS will soon be paying to park in Southampton city centre until 8pm.

The city council is set to rubberstamp contentious plans to extend parking charges into the evening.

As previously revealed in the Daily Echo, council chiefs unveiled the plans in a bid to bring in much-needed income.

Civic chiefs also said that the move would bring Southampton in line with fellow south coast towns and cities such as Bournemouth and Portsmouth, which charge for parking in the evening.

Consultation was carried out earlier this year on the scheme, and the council has now decided to press ahead with plans to introduce charges of £2 up to 8pm on on-street car parking bays and £2 from 6pm to midnight in city centre car parks.

Multi-storey car parks which already charge in the evening will not be affected.

The changes will be brought in across the city centre pay-and-display zone.

As part of the overhaul, the authority has announced plans to reduce overnight annual car park season tickets from £250 to £150, and extend the maximum period of stay during charging hours in the central red parking area to two hours.

If the council Cabinet approves the plans next Tuesday, the new system will be introduced in October.

It is estimated the scheme will bring in about £200,000 a year.

Council chiefs say the new scheme will make sure city centre parking covers its costs of operation, improve the quality of service, and encourage the use of sustainable modes of transport.

But the scheme has proven highly controversial, with businesses and attractions such as the Mayflower Theatre warning it would drive away visitors.

Fourteen organisations formally objected to the plans, including the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, which handed in a 20-signature petition.

Arthur Jeffery, chairman of the City of Southampton Society, said: “We are worried about the survival of the society as the charges may put people off coming to our meetings.

“We also feel for all of the restaurants and cafes, as I think this could have a big impact on them.”

Lee Button, operations manager of New Community Church Hall in St Mary Street, said: “We understand these things need to happen sometimes and the council is in a difficult position.

“But this might turn trade and traffic away from this area, which seems to be the opposite of what they are trying to achieve.”

Mr Button said the hall is used by hundreds of people for community group, school and charity activities, and the new charges could put many people off coming.

He added: “The council are shooting themselves in the foot a bit, as we are hosting activities which the council is now unable to fund, such as music. We would welcome them coming to talk to us about the plans, as they haven’t done so far.”