PARKING charges have again risen in Winchester. As we report on page 3 the cost has increased by about 10p an hour in the very central car parks. It means that a day's parking in the Brooks Centre is now £18 up from £17.

Parking in parts of Brighton now costs around £30. Is this where Winchester is heading? City council leader Martin Tod has cited Brighton as a place where there is no bus station and it looks as if Winchester is following suit in getting rid of the bus station in favour of some sort of 'hub' at the railway station. It is proposed in the local plan currently being consulted on and the subject of readers' letters in today's paper.

Will Winchester follow Brighton's lead and really thump the motorist? This is nothing new. For the last 30 years the council has increased the cost of parking in the city centre to encourage people to use the park and ride on the edges. It has had cross-party support with both Conservatives and Liberal Democrats supporting the general thrust of the policy.

Perhaps the Lib Dems does want to carry on racheting up the costs of parking in the city to Brighton levels. It broadly has support for the policy except for the few diehards who want to be able to park outside the shop of their choice as if it is 1957.

but it would be helpful if the Lib Dems outlined where they see this going over the next few years. It may well be controversial but with 33 councillors as opposed to the 12 Conservatives, three Greens and one independent, the Lib Dems are unlikely to be losing power any time soon.