DRIVERS in Poole look set to be hit in the pocket with parking charges in the town set to rise by up to 40 per cent next year.

Under proposals expected to be approved by Poole council, evening charges for town centre car parks would increase 30p from 70p to £1.

Residents' parking permits are also set for a hefty hike, from £30 to £40.

Beach charges are to be streamlined, which will mean more expensive parking in April, May, June and September and in the winter.

However, no increases are proposed for daytime rates in town centre car parks.

Julian McLaughlin, head of transportation services at Poole council, said the proposed charges struck a reasonable balance between the need to raise adequate funds for services and ensuring the commercial viability of the town centre.

He said: "By raising the evening charge for parking from 70p to £1, the council will be able to keep the daytime charges for the town centre at this year's rates.

"The annual charge for resident parking permits has not risen since 1989 and we believe the proposed annual charge of £40 still represents good value for money when compared with the £50 charge for permits in Bournemouth.

"The proposals also reflect the council's continued efforts to simplify the range of parking charges across the borough.

"Beach charges will be simplified next year into two bands rather than four, which will actually see the all-day peak season rate for parking reduced from £10 to £8."

The proposed rises come as Poole council announced a sizeable surplus of more than £100,000 on this year's budgeted income from parking rates. A better than predicted September saw an additional £64,000 poured into the council coffers.

Mr McLaughlin added: "The additional income from parking charges is due to seasonal fluctuations and other variables which affect car park use throughout the year.

"We cannot predict these variations or the impact on income from parking charges next year."

The new charges for 2008 are expected to be rubber-stamped at a meeting of the council's transportation advisory group today.

If approved, the new rates would come into force from April 1 next year.