Free car parking at several locations across Southampton has been scrapped, with new charges to come into force tomorrow.

Seventeen car parks will no longer offer two hours’ free parking.

The move comes after Southampton City Council’s Labour cabinet gave the green light for the controversial plans.

Motorists will now be charged 50p if they choose to park for an hour at select car parks in Woolston, Bitterne, Portswood, and Shirley.

A new charging period of Monday to Sunday, 8am to 8pm. will also be introduced.

Affected car parks include Portsmouth Road in Woolston, Lances Hill in Bitterne, Westridge Road in Portswood, and Howards Grove in Shirley.

READ MORE: Petition launched to stop the scrapping of free parking

From tomorrow, it will cost 50p for one hour, £1 for two hours, £1.50 for three hours, £2.50 for four hours, £4 for five hours, and £6 for 12 hours.

However, due to a high level of demand, the car parks at Commercial Street, West End Road, Bright Glade, Woodley Road North and Woodley Road South will have a maximum stay of two hours only.

The car park at Whites Road will have a smaller charge for the long stay tariff due to the lower level of demand seen at this site.

Cllr Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for transport, said: “The changes to the parking tariffs and new charging period will support the operation and maintenance of the sites, including pothole repairs and relining of bays, whilst also seeking to manage demand for the car parks.

“We want to ensure parents and carers can drop off and collect their child without any concerns which is why we have introduced the new permit for those individuals.

“Over the next few months, we will be monitoring usage and footfall at our district centres to see if they are significantly affected by the new tariffs and if there is such an impact, the tariffs will be reviewed”.

The demand and footfall will be monitored from Tuesday until September 30.

Following concerns raised during the consultation in November, council officers have developed a free permit for selected car parks for the sole purpose of dropping off or collecting a child to a school between 8.30am to 9am and 3pm to 3.30pm.

The permit will be valid for 10 minutes, with an additional 10-minute grace period, and will be distributed through the selected schools.