MORE than 1,000 people in Andover will see the cost of their parking permits rise by 246 per cent after transport bosses gave the go-ahead for increased fees.

Residential parking charges have been under review by Hampshire County Council as it looks at ways to make more money to maintain roads.

Currently 1,476 residents in the town and surrounding areas pay £15 per annum but from April 2019 drivers will be expected to cough up £37 more per year, bringing the charge to £52.

Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) administers the scheme on behalf of the county authority - which manages the majority of the area’s roads.

The county council says the increase will mean the service is operated “on a full cost recovery basis”, and not subsidised by the borough’s on-street parking accounts – which are partly made up of cash from fines and tickets.

Last year TVBC processed 1,065 new permit applications and 920 permit renewals across the borough.

The new cost will also affect those who currently do not have to pay for a permit, as they were living in zones before they were introduced, will now have to pay.

Following the decision, made on Monday, Councillor Rob Humby, Hampshire County Council transport chief, said: “We know from what Hampshire residents have told us that a well maintained highway network is a priority for them, and so we need to ensure that as much resource as possible goes into this.

“Making sure parking places are maintained with signs and lines, that appropriate traffic orders are put in place, and where waiting restrictions are imposed, that these are effectively managed – all come at a cost, and this is currently taking resource away from essential highways maintenance.

“The recommendations I’ve agreed mean that these costs can be recovered as changes are phased in.”