PARKING charges are set to rise again – some by more than 80 per cent – as the district council introduces what it describes as a “fairer” system for payments.

The so-called ‘linear’ system, which involves motorists paying for the time they are parked rather than a flat rate, has already been tried out at three car parks across the district.

Councillors have been told that it is a fairer approach to charging.

There have been complaints in the past that the ticket machines do not give change, and so motorists sometimes have to put in more money than they need to.

Now, the system is likely to be expanded to all car parks except Samphire Hoe, Townwall Street and Woolcomber Street.

Presented with three options for price increases, members of the council’s cabinet went for option two on Monday, which involves a payment of 80 or 90 pence per hour in most car parks, though some will be cheaper including Albany Place at 50 pence an hour.

Currently, most car park charges are 60 or 70 pence an hour.

But it is with the on-street parking that charges are set to rise the most.

A two-hour stay in Castle Street, Pencester Road and Russell Street currently costs £1.20, but that will rise to £2.20 under the new scheme.

The minimum payment of 40 pence goes up to 55 pence and the hourly charge rises from 80 pence to £1.10.

On Dover seafront the cost for two hours goes up from £1 to £1.60, and for five hours from £2.20 to £4.

Maximum payments for cars would be £6 for nine hours at Camden Crescent, Maison Dieu and Russell Street car parks and on the seafront.

Coach parking at Castle Hill and the seafront is set to rise from £1.20 to £1.30 for the first hour, and from £10.80 to £11.70 for nine hours.

Cllr Nigel Collor has called for a maximum payment for cars of £5.50, and for coaches of £10.