CAR parking charges are expected to go up from April across South Somerset – including Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne.

The full council meets on Thursday to discuss recommendations made by the authority’s District Executive earlier this month which could see prices rise.

Councillors are expected to keep their precept for the 2012-13 Council Tax the same as last year but they will be hoping to boost revenue by sticking an extra 10p on an hour’s stay at the authority’s car parks.

Shoppers look set to have to pay 60p for an hour to park in Bath Street, Essex Close, Boden Street and Crowshute in Chard; while to park all day in Boden Street, Marketfield, Combe Street and The Minnows will go up by 30p to £2.50; and all day at Crowshute by 20p to £1.60.

Similar price hikes are expected at car parks in Crewkerne at South Street, Henhayes and Abbey Street, and in Ilminster at West Street, Orchard Vale and Shudrick Lane.

The Liberal Democrat-controlled council is expected to encounter opposition about the increases at tomorrow’s meeting from the Conservative group.

The Tory group leader at South Somerset, Cllr Martin Wale, a former Chard Mayor, said: “It seems to be flying in the face of what we are trying to achieve for our market towns. We are trying to encourage more shoppers to visit them on one hand but then on the other we put parking prices up.”

A council report has said the car parks will have to be monitored to see if the increased charges result in a decline in use.

“A 5% reduction in usage across all car parks is equivalent to £99,410 loss in car park income,” the report said. “A further risk will be if there is a decline in retail sales and travel to town centres.”