Civic leaders have put a positive spin on a proposal to increase car parking charges in Yeovil, saying town centre users and shoppers will benefit to the tune of around £50,000 a year.

Car park charges have been frozen for three years (as long as five years at some car parks) but South Somerset District Council wants to go ahead with increases in January next year.

The proposal has been considered by two council committees and is about to be officially advertised, giving members of the public the opportunity to make submissions.

A statement issued by the council this week said: "The money will go to fund a range of improvements including extra CCTV and improved lighting for car parks, upgrading footpaths linking car parks to the town centre, providing car park ticket machines with canopies, and helping to maintain and improve town centre facilities.

"Money will also go towards funding local transport initiatives."

The size of the increase will vary from car park to car park. Examples include: Brunswick Street - from 70p to £1 for all day; Court Ash - from 50p to 60p for two hours; Huish old pool - from £100 to £125 for a quarterly ticket.

A council report estimates that the proposal would generate additional net income of up to £160,000 over a year if present usage is maintained.

One fourth (£40,000) would come from the long-stay car parks alone.

The report also says: "There is an existing arrangement whereby Area South is entitled to retain a proportion of the increased income generated for town centre maintenance and enhancement projects."

The cost of implementing the proposal would come to about £8,000.

Councillor Tony Fife (the Area South chairman) commented: "Even with the increase, car park charges remain attractive and are cheaper than many towns in the region. In most cases we are talking of an increase of 10 pence over current charges and the good news is that the car park user will reap benefits from the extra revenue."

* The council advised motorists that the Yeo Leisure car park is under-utilised and currently has spare capacity.