TEST Valley Borough Council officers have been asked to look again at the possibility of providing a regular park and ride scheme.

The call comes as motorists face a deadline of 27 May to object to proposed car parking charges which include long-stay charges rising by 55 per cent and medium term charges rising by up to 25 per cent.

Season ticket holders face quarterly rises of £60 or £180 for a full year and those who are caught parking without a ticket will see the 'standard charge' or penalty doubled to £60.

The call for a rethink on park and ride was made by members of Andover Councillors Forum after Mr Terry Gilmour, head of Test Valley Borough Council's technical department, said the Christmas park and ride from Beech Hurst was a success. It carried a total of 600 passengers on the four weekends before Christmas and cost just under £1,500.

Although passenger number were modest, that was partly due to the scheme's marketing because it was a last minute decision to set it up.

Mr Gilmour said: "I think it went pretty well and the indications are it will probably be better supported if it is marketed better next time."

Cllr Val Menzies suggested a limited park and ride scheme should be introduced on Saturdays, probably between 10am and 2pm.

"The car parks are often full and sometimes you can't park very easily in town on a Saturday," she said.

Mr Gilmour said that neither the multi-storey car park at the Chantry Centre nor the Shepherd Spring Lane car park was used to capacity. Overall, car parks in town were used to 80 per cent capacity during the year excluding the Christmas period.

Cllr Pamela Mutton said Basingstoke had park and ride on Saturdays and she thought it would be a good idea to try in Andover.

Mr Gilmour said the only place which could be considered would be Beech Hurst. Anywhere else out of town would have to be bought, making the cost prohibitive.

Leader of the council, Cllr Ian Carr said the idea would be considered as part of the council's transportation study.