TRADERS say new parking charges set to be introduced in Malvern are fairer and more balanced than those thrown out because of public protests earlier this year.

Malvern Hills District Council was set to raise the cost of parking in short-stay car parks, from 60p to 90p for one hour and £1.20 to £1.70 for two hours, until impassioned pleas from concerned business owners forced a last-minute change of heart in February.

Now, following discussions with traders, the council is set to unveil revised charges that will actually make it cheaper to park in short-stay car parks.

Under the proposals, set to be presented to MHDC’s overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday, the cost for one hour’s parking in shortstay car parks will be reduced to 50p.

A smaller increase, to £1.40, is being proposed for two-hour tickets, but the car park in Geraldine Road, Barnards Green, will be exempt from this rise.

In long-stay car parks the cost for one hour will fall from 60p to 50p and two hours from £1.20 to £1, although seven-day tickets will increase from £5 to £9.

The cost of the annual two-hour residents’ parking permit will increase from £15 to £25, but long-stay season ticket prices are being slashed.

Annual tickets, currently £185, will cost £120 in Malvern and Tenbury or £75 in Upton, while quarterly tickets, currently £65, will be reduced to £40 in Malvern and Tenbury and £25 in Upton.

MHDC is looking to push through the changes sooner rather than later, despite previously agreeing that no changes would be made until civil parking enforcement had been implemented.

But Chris Marks, acting chairman of Great Malvern Association of Traders (GMAT), said he would have no concerns over this.

“It seems a bit fairer and I think in general it is very positive,” he said.

“Before we were looking at almost a 50 per cent increase in short-stay charges, which we felt was too hard and too fast and would certainly have had a negative impact on the number of people regularly shopping in the town.”

Councillor Mike Morgan, who chaired the car parking working group, said: “We had a series of very productive meetings with representatives of local businesses.

“We believe our new proposals will reflect their concerns.”

If the proposals are approved by overview and scrutiny members they will be go forward to MHDC’s executive committee and then full council.