HEREFORDSHIRE'S transport chief has argued that bringing in parking charges on more streets in the city centre will actually be a good thing.

Herefordshire Council has already decided to raise parking charges from Monday, April 3.

It said it was an "inflationary increase" which would see parking charges rise by 20p in zone one and two car parks, such as the bus station and Gaol Street.

Zone three car parks, such as Merton Meadow, would be frozen though in a bid to make parking further away from central areas "increasingly more cost-effective".

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Residents and businesses are being asked for their views about on-street parking in roads that surround the "historic centre of Hereford".

The review of on-street parking is in line with the Local Transport Plan (LTP), approved in 2016, which sets out the council’s strategic objectives for parking.

This includes managing the supply and pricing of parking to encourage the use of active and sustainable travel choices, and supporting our long-term growth proposals in Hereford through the delivery of longer-term parking provision, such as Park and Choose, and to rationalise and reduce the supply of commuter parking in the centre of the city.

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Coun John Harrington, the cabinet member for infrastructure and transport, said Herefordshire Council needed to be proactive when setting its parking charges.

He understood concern surrounding the introduction of parking charges to free parking areas could mean that the city centre footfall will reduce as a result, but he argued better management of parking leads to reduced congestion, improved air quality and road safety, promotes the local economy and ensures good accessibility.

“Professional surveys undertaken in the identified locations have recorded an average of 541 parking events between 30 minutes and two hours each day, excluding residents with permits," he said.

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"An estimated 40 per cent displacement into off-street parking or other travel means would see nearly 70,000 parking trips displaced from our city streets annually, improving space availability for businesses and residents, creating more turnover and helping our visitors.

“We are keen to hear the views of residents and businesses in the streets where these proposals will apply.

"Letters will be sent to affected properties, along with ward councillors and other stakeholders, in the coming weeks so they can get in touch directly as part of the process.”