JUST eight months after the introduction of the New Forest's controversial pay and display scheme the council has agreed to increase charges.

The £5 Parking clock's annual season tickets have been available since January when free parking in district council car parks was axed. More than 61,000 have been sold to residents, shoppers, workers and holidaymakers.

But the clocks have met with mixed reaction from the public used to free parking in the district.

The New Forest District Council met on Wednesday to discuss the findings of its six-month review of the scheme and agreed to follow the recommendations of its officers and increase the charge to £6.

The report presented to the cabinet said: "It is believed this level of charge will help sustain the economic vitality of towns and villages, is not prohibitive to those who have to use a car for essential journeys and maintains the clock's use in managing waiting times in off street car parks."

Parking clocks consist of a clock face where drivers can mark the time they park at before leaving the card on the dashboard where it can be seen by car park attendants.

The increased charge is expected to net the district council an extra £59,000 a year, which it said would be used to help pay for the decriminalisation of car parking in the district, including the introduction of its own traffic wardens.

Clocks are available at council offices, information and visitor centres across the district.

The newly priced clocks will cover the period between January 1 and December 31.

First published: Sept 3