MALVERN traders say there must be better enforcement of on-street parking, rather than an increase in charges, to help businesses survive.

The call was prompted by Malvern Hills District Council’s decision to adopt new tariffs, which will see prices rise in short-stay car parks and fall in long-stay sites from Sunday, April 1.

Business owner and district councillor Hannah Campbell called a meeting for traders on Tuesday, which was also attended by the council’s leader Phil Grove and head of customer and environmental services Ivor Pumfrey. Miss Campbell said: “We agreed, as traders, that enforcement needs to come before increases in charges.

“Unless we have enforcement we fear it will force people out of short-stay and onto the streets exacerbating the problem rather than lessening it.

“Increasing charges will add another nail to the town centre’s coffin, especially with the retail park having free parking.” Adrian Ward, a business owner and town councillor, said: “At a time when the economic climate is so tight, bringing in such a high increase when you don’t have any improvement on the monitoring of on-street parking is really questionable.

“We are hoping they don’t implement this until they have sorted out on-street monitoring.

“It will drive people out of the car parks and make the situation with on-street parking much worse than it already is.”

The decision is set for further inspection when it comes before the council’s overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday at 6.30pm in the Elgar Room at the Council House, Avenue Road.

Coun Tom Wells, co-chairman of the committee, said: “Mike Morgan, my co-chairman, and I firmly believe the executive’s decision is worthy of further scrutiny.

“We also believe it is important members of the public, particularly local traders, have the opportunity to express their views.

“The committee is likely to produce a recommendation to the full meeting of council on February 21.”

If approved the tariffs will include a new 30-minute short-stay charge of 50p.

Parking charges for an hour will rise from 60p to 90p, and for two hours from £1.20 to £1.70, with short-stay season tickets also rising from £15 to £30.

Long-stay charges will be reduced from 60p to 50p for an hour and £1.20 to £1 for two hours.

Long-stay season tickets will also be reduced.