WINTER car park charges may be increased in Weymouth and Portland to boost revenue by £100,000 next year.

The lower fees for November to March would be chopped and present summer rates would become the standard charge all the year around, if councillors agree.

The move is one of several options to be considered by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and comes after members rejected a similar proposal last year.

Eric Alley, deputy chairman of the Weymouth and Portland Residents Association, said: "Most people would be absolutely horrified if charges were hiked up. Car parking charges are pretty high at the moment anyway and there are complaints from visitors about the fees."

Members of the council's environment and conservation committee will debate the options on October 18 when the proposals will also go out for public consultation before final decisions in December.

Suggestions also include no changes to all year round charges at the Harbourside, Loop and Governors Lane car parks, no changes to street summer pay and display charges on the Esplanade. But other proposals include raising the three-hour charge by 20 pence in the Park Street, Melcombe Regis and council offices car parks to £2, charging at some free car parks on Portland and raising the charges at Lodmoor but making the park and ride free.

The abolition of winter charges is considered to be a last resort and 'not a favoured option' although the council said it would introduce a residents discount if the move went ahead.

The shake-up would not affect some short stay car parks in the town centre but some long stay facilities would be affected and the Nothe car park would see an increase from 50 pence to £2 for two hours and £1 to £4 for four hours.

The Overcombe, Masonic, Portland Bill and Chesil car parks would increase from 50 pence to £1 for two hours, £1 to £2 for four hours and £2 to £5 for 12 hours.

Council finance briefholder Coun Howard Legg and economy briefholder Lynne Herbert said: "Financially we already know next year will be difficult for the council with little in the way of increased Government grant predicted.

"Yet additional duties laid down by the Government, such as increased recycling targets and the transfer of licensing, are expected to be paid for at a local level. Consequently parking income is an important source of revenue to the council and while no-one like to pay more for parking, it does help meet the cost of services provided to residents and visitors."