Car parking charges at Bourne Hall are set to increase from August 1.

Epsom Council is to start charging 20p for a stay of up to 30 minutes at the car park, in Spring Street, Ewell, which is currently free, while a stay of up to one hour will decrease from £1 to 40p. 

A stay of up to two hours will stay the same at £1, but parking for up to three hours will rise from £1 to £1.50, and a maximum stay of up to four hours will now cost £3 not £2.

The council originally planned to enforce the 20p charge for a half-hour stay from 7am in the morning, to the dismay of parents who use the car park for the school run, and have now decided that the charge will come into effect from 9am each day instead.

Councillor Jan Mason, chairwoman of the council’s leisure committee, said: "At a time when the council is facing major financial cuts from central Government and is having to make harsh decisions about service provision, these changes are nominal and even reduce the costs for those who just want to pop into the library."