PROPOSED new price structures of Worcester's car parks, which could be given the go-ahead, this week, have been announced.

The scheme, aimed at discouraging people who work in the city parking too close to the centre, is due to be discussed tonight by council chiefs and could come into operation at the start of December.

Yesterday the Evening News announced that other proposed changes will include cheap overnight parking and simplified price structures.

The proposals for the car parks involves the zoning into five bands.

Pricing structures will range from free parking for up to three hours at Swanpool Walk, to £1 an hour in the central car parks at The Cornmarket, Copenhagen Street and Providence Street.

These are all designated for short-term shoppers' use, which until now have been clogged by commuters happy to spend £5.80 for all-day parking.

It is hoped workers in the city will now be attracted to a proposed fee of £2.50 on car parks specifically aimed at them.

The five zones are:

n Band 1: Cornmarket, Copenhagen Street and Providence Street, aimed at short-term shoppers close to the city centre. New prices range from £1 an hour (formerly 90p) to £8 (formerly £6) for up to 12 hours.

n Band 2: Cattle Market, King Street, St Martin's Gate (and later, Newport Street) aimed at tourists and longer-period shopping. Prices unchanged at 60p an hour to £6 for up to 12 hours.

n Band 3: Clare Street, Commandery Road, Croft Road zoned for longer stay business and operational parking. New prices range from 50p an hour (formerly 40p) to £3.30 at Croft Road and £6 at Clare St and Commandery Road (both unchanged) for up to 12 hours

n Band 4: Tallow Hill, Tybridge Street, Pitchcroft and Moors zoned for all-day parking. 50p an hour (unchanged) to £2.50 (formerly £2.30) all day.

n Band 5: Swanpool Walk free parking up to three hours on 51 of the 91 spaces available (unchanged)

"We're using charges as a way of re-distributing parking activity, which may help to reduce congestion as well as enable a more even spread of available parking at any one time," said Worcester City Council deputy leader, Councillor Simon Geraghty.

"At the moment seven per cent of spaces at Cornmarket & Copenhagen St are taken up by long term parkers.

"These could save nearly £27.50 a week by parking at Tybridge St, Tallow Hill or Pitchcroft under these proposals, or save £23.50 a week by parking at St Martin's Gate, which is no more 100 yards from the city centre."

Another key move could be to allow city centre residents cheap parking on the top floor of St Martin's Gate car park between 6pm and 9am.

People living within the area bounded by City Walls Road, College Street, Deansway, All Saints Road, The Butts and Sansome Street will be offered the opportunity to buy a special permit for £50 a year.

"For less than a pound a week, they will benefit from secure overnight parking seven days a week," added Coun Geraghty.

"As a Conservative council we need to be realistic about city living.

"Many residents own cars and need them for everyday living, so why not allow them to use a secure car park for overnight parking and generate some additional revenue for the benefit of everyone?"

All the proposals are due to be considered by Worcester City Council's cabinet tonight.