Car parking charges in Rayleigh will remain unchanged - despite the council's director of finance urging councillors that by raising prices much-needed cash could be generated.

Roger Crofts told the full meeting of Rochford District Council that car parks were one of the only ways the council had of raising money apart from council tax.

He said: "The council will be looking at its budget in the next few weeks and there is an overspend that will have to be addressed."

However, it was agreed after a lengthy and politically-heated debate that charges would stay the same and that free Saturday afternoon parking would be retained.

It was also decided that new machines that record registration numbers would be purchased to prevent drivers from the illegal practice of giving unexpired tickets to other users of the car park.

For 20p shoppers can park for half an hour. But councillor Ann Hutchings (Hockley Residents' Association, Hockley East) put forward an amendment to scrap this and replace it with a 40p fee for two hours.

She highlighted the amount of penalty notices issued to motorists who have over-stayed the half-hour time limit. Out of a total of 3,364 tickets, 1,657 were for expired tickets.

Of these 36 per cent had bought a 30 minute ticket.

Councillor David Barnes (Lib Dem, Lodge) said: "The abolition of the half hour band would cause public uproar. It could be an attack on town centre shopping and we must protect that."

Mrs Hutchings' motion was not agreed.

The council has made £35,000 through penalty notices, out of a total of £477,000 generated through its car parks.

Conservative councillor Peter Webster (Whitehouse) )declared his party's intention to bring in a pay-on-exit system at Websters Way if it returned to power.

He said: "It is unjust and unfair that someone can spend ten minutes over their time and be fined.

"I am also surprised that councillor Leach has gone against the director of finance not to put the car park charges up."

Lib Dem leader councillor Vic Leach (Hawkwell East) said: "The proposal not to change the structure of the charges was not taken lightly.

"Rayleigh is an interesting and vibrant town and we want to encourage this and for people to come to the town to shop."

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