A BID to hold a consultation into a decision to increase the cost of car parking across East Hampshire has failed.

The increases to charges in Petersfield and Alton town centres will raise East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) an estimated £400,000 extra a year in revenue, and can now be introduced “immediately.”

Those behind the plea for debate were told by the council’s legal advisor Nick Leach there was no requirement for consultation with anyone.

The attempt to get the rises discussed before a wider audience came at Monday’s meeting of the EHDC governance, audit and scrutiny committee.

It was led by Alton councillors, EHDC members Dean Philips and David Orme, Hampshire county councillors Mark Kemp-Gee and Andrew Joy and Alton Mayor Matthew Bayliss.

Cllr Bayliss confirmed there had been no consultation, adding that the Alton business development manager, part-funded by EHDC, hadn’t even been told.

Cllr Orme said the move was a “parking charges policy,” not a parking strategy.

Reference was made to the fact the increases followed a 2.6 per cent council tax cut by EHDC, which came into effect from April 1.

Government legislation says if council tax is to rise by more than five per cent a referendum on the issue must be held, pointed out one of the 30-strong audience.

But the committee found that the decision taken as an “urgent item” by the council cabinet on April 27, was correct.

It will generate about £8,000 a week, and can come into effect “immediately”, agreed committee chairman Cllr Anthony Williams.

At the same time, a meeting of Petersfield Town Council’s finance and general purposes committee in the Festival Hall moved that the town council should support the Alton protests.

The committee asked that the full council supports the view the increases weren’t justified, and that the lack of consultation should be raised with EHDC.

Members also said they had concerns about the district-wide parking strategy.

Petersfield Mayor James Deane said Alton, Petersfield and Whitehill and Bordon were different towns with different parking issues.