SHOPPERS will have to pay more to park their cars in Worcester from the beginning of next year.

A major overhaul of car parking charges in the city will mean people will have to pay an average of about 10p more for every hour of parking.

Clare Street car park, off City Walls Road, will see the biggest increase with charges rising by an extra 30p every hour for up to three hours parking. It will cost £1 less to park for up to six hours though.

At the city council’s full council meeting it was agreed to introduce a new traffic light colour-coded system for the 15 council-owned car parks.

Councillors said it will make pricing easier for shoppers and commuters to understand.

Leader Simon Geraghty said the changes, which come into effect on Thursday, January 1, would bring in about £75,000 to the cash-strapped council but he thought the average 2.5 per cent increase was fair.

“The council recognises the difficult retail climate and we wouldn’t want to jeopardise the local economy, which has held out quite well against the national picture,” he said, pointing to the fact the council has offered free parking after 6pm on late-night shopping Thursdays and a special rate on Sundays in the run-up to Christmas.

Following a year-long study of the city’s parks and how they are used, red zone, high shopper turnover car parks – Copenhagen Street, Cornmarket and Providence Street – will all rise by 10p to £1.20 an hour under the plan, or £10 for 24 hours.

Amber zone car parks – Cattle Market, King Street, Newport Street, St Martin’s Gate, Clare Street, Commandery Road, Orchard House – will cost 90p an hour, or £6 for 24 hours.

Green zone car parks – Pitchcroft Moors, Tallow Hill, Tybridge Street, Croft Road – aimed at long-staying customers, will cost 60p an hour, or £3.50 for 24 hours.

A new season ticket scheme for St Martin’s Gate car park is also to be piloted.

Labour councillor Paul Denham tried to put an ammendment on the table calling for red zone car parks to be limited to a maximum three hours stay with no return for two hours but that was rejected on the basis it would be hard to put into effect operationally.

There were also concerns it could have a long-term negative impact on shoppers should large numbers of motorists get parking tickets.