Losses of £72,000 are expected from car parks, due to the loss of Cheap Street car park, and moving away from pay and display, according to new council figures.

Councillors stopped short of introducing Sunday charging and adding 10p an hour, after Newbury.net revealed last week that the proposals were being examined.

But the council said “it is anticipated that future proposals for car park admissions fees will balance the budget”, and is preparing evening charges in the Kennet Centre multi-storey.

A second problem will arise with the end of pay and display in the multi-storey next month, as traffic wardens expect to lose £20,000 from fines for expired tickets. To cover this, parking fines will go up from £50 to £60.

Combined with the extra revenue from parking permit system in West Fields, the council expects to bank £60,000 in parking fines.