The price of using a car park in the Cotswolds could rise if plans are approved next week.

Cotswold District Council’s cabinet is being asked to give the go-ahead to the car park cost increases and other measures such as introducing new 20-minute free bays.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the authority forecasted it would have a net increase of car park income of £435,000 from a rise in revenue and savings by the end of this financial year.

But the lockdown reduced the car parking income to almost nil across the district which was followed by the suspension of all parking charges, a council document said.

Parking in popular tourist areas of the Cotswolds such as Cirencester and Bourton-on-the-Water will increase by 70p for up to three hour stays – the first increase since 2010.

The cost of one-hour stays in other car parks will increase by 30p in most car parks, and two-hour stays could increase by up to 50p.

The price of season tickets is expected in rise under the proposals, and the free parking after 3pm in Rissington Car Park, in Bourton-on-the-Water, would be retained.

The district council is expected to start encouraging car parking customers to use technology to pay for parking on their mobile phone, rather than touching a pay and display machine to reduce the risk of germs being spread, the council report also said.

A one hour no return policy could be introduced in the Brewery Car Park, in, Cirencester, to ensure cars cannot park there all day and protect the spaces for short stay shoppers, the council report said.

According to the latest budget consultation, 44 per cent of respondents agreed with the rise in charges while 36 per cent disagreed with them.

The council report also said the new Whiteway Car Park, in Cirencester, will be operational from September.

The car parks which could see increases are:

Brewery (Cirencester)

The Forum (Cirencester)

Cotswold Leisure Centre (Cirencester)

Abbey (Cirencester)

Old Station (Cirencester)

Waterloo (Cirencester)

Sheep Street (Cirencester)

Beeches (Cirencester)

Church Street (Tetbury)

West Street (Tetbury)

Old Market Way (Moreton-in-Marsh)

Maugersbury Road (Stow-on-the-Wold)

Rissington Car Park (Bourton-on-the-Water)

The Chipping Car Park (Tetbury – managed by Cotswold District Council on behalf of a charity which sets the charges).

Cotswold District Council’s cabinet is expected to approve the changes on July 6, from 6pm.

If permitted, the increases will come in effect from September 1 this year.

A council document said: “Car park charges will be reviewed for 2020/21, and thereafter every two years; the budget proposal anticipates that changes will generate around £435,000 in additional net revenue from car parking through both extra income and cost savings. These would include the first increases in parking charges since 2010.

“A schedule of proposed changes to car parking day ticket and season ticket prices were available for the budget consultation. The proposed budget assumes a saving of around £35,000 resulting from the removal of the option to pay by cash at council car parks; this saving is included within the overall additional net revenue of £435,000.

“Free parking after 3pm in all car parks where this is currently in operation will be retained, while new dedicated 20-minute free parking bays will be introduced at some of the council car parks to enable residents to make short trips to the district’s towns free of charge.”