BIG increases in the cost of parking for residents and visitors are looming for thousands of Winchester people.

City councillors last night supported the principle of increasing the charges for car parks and also upping the fees for on-street permits.Council officers have suggested doubling the price of residents permits from around £90 for an average household to £180 a year.

The hike would affect more than 1,000 households in the permit zones that cover the city centre, Hyde, Fulflood, Oram's Arbour, West Hill, and parts of Highcliffe, Winnall, St Giles Hill, Abbotts Barton and St Cross, as reported in the Daily Echo yesterday. Council officers have proposed increasing by ten per cent the charges in council car parks and possibly ending the travel token scheme for pensioners. The city council is under increasing financial pressure and all departments are seeking fund-raising and money-saving ideas.

Last night councillors on the environment and access performance improvement committee agreed to discuss the increases in detail at a meeting on November 15.

Robin Cooper, director of development services, said car park charges had been static since 2002 and the cost of permits was "significantly lower'' in Winchester than in neighbouring authorities.