PARKING charges will undergo a radical overhaul to encourage longer shopping trips and make it fairer for those leaving their cars outside key areas.
The review will mean drivers parking on 'premium' car parks in Hanley will pay less for longer stays, with a four-hour ticket costing �4 instead of �5.20.
But those using the popular car parks at Lower Huntbach Street and Meigh Street in the city centre for just one hour will see the price rise from �1 and �1.30 respectively to �1.50.
Under-used car parks in Castle Street, Warner Street and Upper Huntbach Street could close under the review, while the car park in John Street is earmarked to shut in March to make way for the new Hanley bus station.
To encourage drivers to use the nearby John Street multi-storey instead, �1.5 million will be invested in refurbishing the facility, including a new entrance.
The new fees will also include a �1.50 all-day Sunday charge on the car parks closest to the shops.
Off-street parking outside the main city centre will see a fall in pay-and-display costs, with a one-hour ticket at John Street and Meigh Street multi-storeys costing �1 instead of �1.20 and �1.30 respectively, while a four-hour stay will cost �3. Sunday parking will be �1.
The cost of on-street parking will rise but motorists will be able to leave their cars there for longer periods of time.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council ordered a working group to be set up to devise a charging strategy last February.
It says the tariffs aim to encourage shoppers to park in the city centre.
City Independent councillor Brian Ward, cabinet member for housing, planning and transportation, said: "We hope it will improve things.
"We need to look at all the car parks in the city centre. Some have a higher value than others because they are closer to the shops.
"Members of the public saw it as unfair to be charged the same to park in the city centre as at the back of the shops at Normacot."
If the council's cabinet approves the policy on February 3, it would come into force from April.
City Centre Partnership spokesman Richard Day, pictured below left, said: "This strategy seems a very mixed bag. Parking prices are up and down and individual car parks have been targeted, which can be confusing for people."
Administration assistant Paula Cope, aged 43, regularly drives to shop in the city centre from Birches Head.
She said: "Parking is expensive in the city centre and it does need looking at.
"I suppose it is fairer to pay more to park closer to the shops, but if it gets much more expensive, people will stop paying to come to the city centre."
Meanwhile, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is to broadcast its first meeting live over the internet.
The authority's full council will begin at 2.30pm and will include reports on its various committees.
To see the video click the link below:
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Weir Tony Cottee Peter Crouch Ryan Babel Iain Chambers Censorship
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