A Norfolk council has agreed to increase fees at 14 of its car parks after months of deliberations.

South Norfolk Council will be hiking charges at the car parks it owns in Diss, Loddon and Wymondham.

The proposals were first considered earlier this year, but taken back to the drawing board amid concerns about the introduction of parking fees on Sundays - a measure that has now been scrapped.

Councillors insist the new charges, which have been increased for the first time in eight years, will still be "affordable" for users. 

The car park at Loddon staithe is one of the locations where fees could increaseThe car park at Loddon staithe is one of the locations where fees will increase (Image: Angela Sharpe) The council owns eight car parks in Diss, two in Harleston, two in Loddon, one in Long Stratton and four in Wymondham. Harleston and Long Stratton are operated separately and will remain free.

The charges have been frozen since 2016 but are now set to be modified in order to make the tariff structure "easier to understand" and cover maintenance costs. 

This will see drivers charged £2 for up to three hours, as opposed to £1 for two hours currently.

The cost of a full day of parking will also increase from £4 to £5. However, all towns will still offer a free first hour of parking. 

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The two council-owned car parks in Loddon currently offer two hours of free parking, subsidised by the Co-Op, an arrangement which the council says it hopes it re-negotiate. 

Lisa Overton-Neal, a Conservative councillor, said: "We are not doing this to make a profit for the council but we do need to have enough money to maintain our car parks without all of our tax payers shouldering that cost.

"This way, the cost falls on the users, and I believe it is still affordable."

Daniel Elmer, leader of the Conservative-run councilDaniel Elmer, leader of the Conservative-run council (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Daniel Elmer, leader of the council, added: "This is a topic that gets very emotive and it is important to stress that this is not about trying to subsidize the council on the back of motorists.

"This is a simple cost-recovery plan. This is not Norwich and we are not going out of our way to make a profit."

The updated charges are expected to be implemented by next autumn.