THE cost of nipping out to the shops across the South Bucks district is set to soar if councillors get their way.

South Bucks District Council plans to increase the amount of money it currently collects from council-run car parks from £50,000 to more than £100,000 next year.

The plans could more than double the cost of parking in car parks such as Warwick Road and Penncroft in Beaconsfield.

Those who work in the town are likely to be hardest hit with the cost of parking for the day rising from £1.60 to £4.20.

Plans to raise charges in the car parks was first mooted in April although this is the first time people have been able to see what those increases are likely to be.

Council officers admit in their report that the number of car park users may fall by as much as a quarter as a result of the charges.

The report said: "The charges proposed in the report were set in order to bring in an income of approximately £180,000 per annum after taking into account a possible 25 per cent reduction in the number of users arising from the increases."

Parish councils are concerned that high charges could put people off shopping in high streets and exacerbate problems of off-street parking.

As a result, Gerrards Cross Parish Council has asked South Bucks District Council to consider an office and shop workers discount scheme in their area.

Beaconsfield Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Henry said parking charges should not be seen as a way of making money but instead to encourage a movement of cars.

Long term car parking clogged up town car parks and strangled shops, he said.

Cllr Henry added: "I do not think you can see parking charges as something you can raise revenue from. Some of the charges are rising quite substantially.

"I agree with the increase of longer term parking charges to discourage people using the town centre car parks and not using the town centre.

"I would much prefer people to park in the town and encourage the growth of the local shops."