A PRIVATELY-RUN car park in Weston-super-Mare will soon have a flat price of £2.90 a day, just a month after North Somerset Council increased its charges.

NCP, which runs a car park in High Street opposite Dolphin Square, says its new tariff will save people up to £10.60 – the previous price for parking all day.

Last month, the council’s executive decided to increase the cost of parking for three hours in four of its Weston car parks, subject to a legal consultation process.

It made the decision in a bid to meet a £2.13million income target for this year.

NCP’s 79 per cent price drop for those parking for more than two hours comes after it reviewed the average length of time people stayed in its car parks for.

It says most customers park for more than two hours, and the new rates will save them money.

NCP business manager Carly Edwards said: “Parking at our car park will now be the cheapest option for shoppers who are looking to park all day and shop and eat locally. “Although the new flat rate will be slightly more expensive for the customers who park using the early bird offer, or for one to two hours rates, we are hoping that our customers will be encouraged to park and shop for longer as the flat rate is now so reasonable.

“Our early bird customers will be able to arrive later if they choose to and still enjoy a very cheap all day rate.”

The council’s decision means drivers will pay £3.50 to park for three hours in the Melrose, Grove Park, Carlton Street and Knightstone car parks.

It was also agreed to introduce an early bird rate at the Carlton Street car park for £2 from November to March. The changes will come into effect on January 1.

The council expects to fall £200,000 short of its income budget for off-street and seafront parking this year, though half of that is because the Carlton Street car park has not proved to be as lucrative as originally predicted, with the leisure area of Dolphin Square not yet built.