A decision to introduce pay and display parking charges has been criticised by the head of a town business group.

Eden council has announced that from mid-July a new hourly rate will come into force for motorists parking in the car park at Drovers Lane, Penrith, behind the town hall.

The car park, which was completed in January last year, has its entrance between Bath Terrace and Lowther Terrace and sits on the site of the former magistrates’ court and Co-operative bakery buildings.

A public notice has now been issued by the council explaining its intention to introduce the charges, which will apply between 8am and 6pm Monday to Saturday.

But Dan Harding, interim chairman of Penrith Business Improvement District (BID) believes that the introduction of charges at the car park on Drovers Lane will not create enough revenue for the town.

He said: “I don’t think it’s a good idea. It’s not a very big car park and there’s not really a lot of things towards that end of town that people will be visiting.

“I’m not sure why people would park there if they’ve got to pay for it and also walk if they want to be in the centre of town.

“It would make more sense to turn it into a car park where yearly permits can be bought by people working nearby instead, but that’s just my opinion.”

Mr Harding said that Penrith BID has had discussions with Eden Council about rolling out parking initiatives elsewhere in the town, which he believes would be more beneficial to both businesses and the local authority.

“You can park in Sainsbury’s free of charge for up to three hours,” he said.

“That’s taken business away from our end of the town to there. We’ve asked about parking initiatives elsewhere to make it fair for everyone but nothing’s been done.”

Pay and display signs have already been installed and Eden Council says that subject to any representations being made, it will formally make a parking order after the July 11 deadline.

A ticket machine would then be installed and charges would be implemented by mid-July.

The council is proposing that parking for up to one hour will cost £1, while motorists will be asked to pay £1.90 for up to two hours.

Other tariffs would include up to four hours’ parking for £3.30 and up to 10 hours for £4.80. Blue badge holders will be able to park free of charge in any space.