CAR parking charges in Cornwall Council car parks could jump five times higher in some places under plans to introduce a new system.

The authority is carrying out a comprehensive review of parking charges across all of its 133 pay and display car parks with an aim of having a more simplified charging structure.

Currently there are a number of different parking tariffs in operation so the council has drawn up a new set of seven bands for car parks to operate under.

However the proposed charges could be met with opposition in some towns as businesses have consistently asked the council to bring charges down to encourage more visitors.

Winter charges in some areas are the worst affected and season tickets, which are often used by people working in towns, could also see high rises.

In Penzance, for example, the cost of a one-month ticket for the town’s Harbour Car park could go from the current charge of £29.17 to £185.60 – an increase of 536%.

Proposed tariffs have been published for all of the council’s car parks and are set to go before the council’s economic growth and development overview and scrutiny committee next week and will have to be subject to full public consultation before any changes could be made. No indication has been given for when any changes could be introduced.

Here are some of the selected tariffs which have been put forward under the new scheme, including the percentage increase.

Berrycombe Road and Dennison Rd, Bodmin: 1hr now 70p proposed £1.40 +100%; 2hr now £1.90, proposed £2.80 +47%; 3hr now £2.90, proposed £4.20 +45%; day rate now £4.90, proposed £11.20 +129%; annual pass now £368, proposed £1,120 +205%; one month pass now £30.67, proposed £162.40 +430%. Season tickets Berrycoombe Rd only.

Falmouth Church Street and Grove Place (winter charges): 1hr now £1, proposed £1.40 +40%; 2hr now £2.10, proposed £2.80 +33%; 3hr now £3.50, proposed £4.20 +20%; day rate (Church St only) now £6.60, proposed £11.20 +70%.

Helston Trengrouse Way and Tyacke Rd: 1hr now 60p, proposed £1.40 +133%; 2hr now £1.40, proposed £2.80 +100%; 3hr now £3.30, proposed £4.20 +27%; day rate (Tyacke Rd only) now £5.50, proposed £11.20 +104%; season tickets (Tyacke only) one month now £31.25, proposed £162.40 +420%.

Looe Millpool (summer): 1hr now 70p, proposed £1.40 +100%; 2hr now £2.20 proposed £2.80 + 27%; day rate now £5.50, proposed £11.20 +104%.

Looe Millpool (winter): 1hr now 60p, proposed 80p +33%; 2hr now £1.20, proposed £1.60 +33%; day rate now £2.30, proposed £5.60 +143%.

Looe Millpool season tickets: One month now £27, proposed £162.40 +501%; annual now £324, proposed £1,120 +246%.

Penzance Harbour (winter): 1hr now £1.40, proposed £1.40 +0%; 2hr now £2.10, proposed £2.80 +33%; 3hr now £3, proposed £4.20 +40%; 4hr now £3.60, proposed £5.60 +56%; all day now £6, proposed £11.20 +87%; season tickets one month now £29.17, proposed £185.60 +536%; annual ticket now £350, proposed £1,280 +266%

Truro car parks: 1hr now £1.50, proposed £1.60 +7%; day rate now £8, proposed £12.80 +60%; one month now £67, proposed £185.60 +177%.

The economic growth and development overview and scrutiny committee will meet on Tuesday (October 16).

On Thursday, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport Geoff Brown said: “I want to assure everyone that these are not proposed new charges but were simply produced to give the committee an indication of how fees might look if we were to introduce a zoning approach to car park charges. 

"At present there are 123 different charges in place across Cornwall.

“Clearly there is work to do in looking at zoning fees and which zone might apply to specific car parks.

“No fee changes could be made until a full public consultation has been carried out.”