Car park charges will increase after a grant dished out by the Government was cut in half.

Halstead Town Council has voted to increase the charges after receiving £7,000 from the localism grant given out by central Government – half of what it received last year.

The plans were discussed as part of a meeting on the budget held earlier this month.

From April, drivers parking in town council-owned car parks for up to 90 minutes will be required to pay 70p – an increase of 10p – while those parking for between 90 minutes and three hours will have to pay £1.50, compared to £1.30 now.

Anyone parking for between three and six hours will see their charges increase from £2.60 to £3.

Drivers parking after 3pm will still be entitled to park for free.

The increase was agreed during a meeting of Halstead Town Council where it was revealed the authority’s share of council tax bills would increase by 2 per cent, in addition to demands from Essex County Council and police and fire authorities.

To cover the rising cost of inflation, the representative Band D will increase from £44.33 to £45.22 per year, which works out at an 89p increase.

Nine new parking permits will also be introduced in the Chapel Street car park priced at £150 for a six-month period.

Applications are now open and permits will be released on a first come first served basis.

Existing permits in other car parks will increase in price from £110 to £121 for a six month permit.

Charges made by the council for the hire of Queens Hall and allotment plots will remain unchanged.