ROMSEY'S MP has waded into the debate over "price hikes" in Winchester's park-and-ride service.

The Lib-Dem's Sandra Gidley said commuters were being "priced off" the service.

She said it had left many workers opting to find alternative parking in an already-overcrowded city.

But, this week, deputy leader of Conservative-controlled Winchester City Council, Cllr George Hollingbery, hit back at the claims, calling them "absolute nonsense" and saying that there was no evidence to suggest use of the service had declined since the March rise.

Ms Gidley's Winchester counterpart, Mark Oaten MP, said he could understand why she had made the comments and insisted she was not treading on his "territory".

Ms Gidley said: "With Hampshire County Council's main office undergoing major redevelopment works at the moment, car parking space is at a premium, in a city that is already notorious for its parking problems.

"Commuters are seemingly voting with their wheels, choosing the inconvenience of finding alternative parking as opposed to paying for the park-and-ride.

"The city council's price hike is a clear example that they are concerned more with making money than providing a vital service for commuters and visitors alike."

Cllr Hollingbery said: "What she's saying is absolute nonsense. The levels of use of the park-and-ride are the same level or even better than when the price increase went through."

He added that the accusation that the council was only concerned with making money was also wrong, as the park-and-ride was subsidised with public money; a loss was made on the car park.

Mr Oaten said he thought Ms Gidley had got involved because many of her constituents worked in Winchester.

"I think she's coming from that perspective, she's not quite on my territory yet!

"I personally think the increase is a step in the wrong direction and we should be moving towards providing these facilities at little or no cost at all if we're to change people's driving habits."

Cllr George Beckett, leader of Winchester City Council, said he would have liked to have been contacted by the Romsey MP before she made public comments about the prices.

He added: "Our park-and-ride prices compare very favourably with other historic cities that have park-and- ride."