PROTESTS that Waverley proposals to raise car park charges to plug the borough’s £1.15 million budget shortfall are “utterly unacceptable”, were backed by councillors last week.

Plans to charge £1 (now 90p) at Haslemere High Street car park and 80p (currently 60p) at Chestnut Avenue car park, with similar increases at five of Waverley’s Godalming car parks, two car parks in both Farnham and Cranleigh, are just some of a range of cash-cutting or income-generating suggestions designed to help balance the budget.

At a meeting of watchdog joint overview and scrutiny committee, councillor David Round said: “There’s an awful lot of hostility to this in Haslemere and I’m sure in other parts of the borough.

“It’s a particular problem in Haslemere as we are so near to places across two county boundaries that are much cheaper.

“Local businesses are up in arms.

“I’ve got a session about it with the Chamber of Trade and the mayor this week. Although the increases are modest, it goes down very badly indeed.”

Farnham councillor Carole Cockburn agreed: “This is such an easy hit,” she said. “I’m very opposed to just sticking charges up by 10p.

“We should look at it and work out what we are trying to achieve.

“Farnham is suffering empty shops and I’m sure that’s repeated across the borough. We should tread carefully and not take the easy way out.”

Arguing for the increase, Farnham councillor Wyatt Ramsdale said: “The increases are aimed at the most expensive car parks. If we are not recovering all the costs of our car parks, we shouldn’t be subsidising drivers at the expense of those who don’t use cars.

“I can’t believe we are taking car drivers for a ride.”

Agreeing, Haslemere councillor Jim Edwards, who is Waverley’s portfolio holder for car parks, said: “The figures for usage since we put the fees up indicate it doesn’t seem to have deterred anyone in Haslemere.

“The car parks are full.”

Committee chairman councillor John Williamson (Farnham Residents) told members he hoped Waverley’s executive would take on board the “strong views” about increasing parking charges when agreeing which budget proposals to back on February 7.

Also under parking proposals, Bramley councillor Maurice Byham queried how the borough would enforce a budget suggestion to introduce means-tested disabled bay car parking charges.

O&S members were told an income-generating proposal to close two public conveniences, negotiate a change of use and lease the buildings out, related to the toilets in Haslemere High Street car park and Godalming Crown Court car park.

Waverley is proposing increasing its share of council tax for a Band D property, currently £167, by £5. Mr Round suggested it could be a higher increase but was told that would trigger a referendum and it “was almost guaranteed” Waverley would lose.

Members were told at the start of the meeting Waverley faced a “serious budget shortfall principally caused by government cuts” and would have to make “difficult decisions”.

Cranleigh councillor Mike Band urged it to “be radical” and look at reducing the council’s corporate size and find “new ways”of delivering services working in partnership.

Haslemere councillor Peter Isherwood supported a proposal to axe Waverley’s garden waste collection at Wey Hill Fairground car park, Haslemere, and also in Godalming, and get residents to subscribe to the doorstep green waste collection instead, or deposit it at the nearest recycling centre.

Further cost-cutting proposals include reducing the opening hours at The Edge Leisure Centre, at Woolmer Hill, given its proximity to Haslemere Leisure Centre, in King’s Road, and reducing the service level agreement to The Orchard Club, at Lion Green, if it agreed to offer a reduced service.