A HIKE in car parking charges will hit Alton over the next three years, with increases of up to 20 per cent on the price of some tickets.

On the plus side, the cost of season tickets will be reduced for peripheral car parks, and there will be an opportunity to pay by mobile phone, to receive additional parking time for overpayment, and for some tickets to be transferrable to other car parks in the town.

It is a package that is expected to provide an additional annual income for East Hampshire District Council of £30,000 in the first year (2013-14), increasing to £230,000 in the second year (2014-15).

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.