The council is set to raise an extra £500,000 a year from their controversial new parking strategy, after proposals for up to a 40 per cent increase in some short stay parking revenues were passed at a dramatic full council meeting on Wednesday night (October 17).

But all day parking charges in the town centre are set to be cut from £10 to £7 and the price of worker season tickets has been frozen for another year.

Earlier in the day, Horsham's industry chief launched a scathing attack on the council's controversial increases in parking charges.

The Earl of Lytton, chairman of the executive committee of Horsham Chamber of Commerce and Industry,accused the Tory-controlled council of failing to consult the people of Horsham and ignoring the wishes of the local business community.

In a letter to the County Times, he said the town's park and ride scheme (costing £153,000 a year in subsidy and two thirds empty] had been a 'waste of money' and that the unpopular parking policies had failed to carry the confidence or support of shoppers, traders or employees of the chamber's members.

"Our take on all this is that the district council does not consult, has no economic vision to meet the challenges that face the town and has a poor grasp of public relations," he said.

"This seems to us a lamentable state of affairs.

"The physical investment in the town, the superb efforts of the Horsham in Bloom team and others, all risk being squandered and are not being translated into economic benefits on a wider scale in terms of shopper loyalty or a sense of civic pride in an environment in which to live, work, spend and enjoy."

His comments followed those of the Horsham Traders' Guild of two weeks ago who, in a press statement furiously criticised the proposals.

Their press release said: "Horsham Traders' Guild (HTG) have slammed the timing of the proposed increases – early 2008 in what is a difficult financial and business climate - and believe that the rises would penalise short-stay shoppers; those vital to the town's retail prosperity."

Full reports, comment and analysis will appear in Friday's County Times.