DRAMATIC cuts in car parking prices across Worcester are on the verge of being made permanent, it has emerged.

Worcester City Council's Conservative leadership has revealed it plans to make the summer's 'temporary offer' a permanent one by extending it indefinitely beyond the end of October.

Back at the end of July it slashed rates as low as 40p for half-an-hour and £1 after 7pm, as well as hefty reductions in coach and lorry parking, while a raft of other lower tariffs returned to boost city traders.

A new report on the offer reveals how the Tory cabinet wants to make it permanent, despite the fact it cost the council £20,000 in 'lost' income during August alone.

It also reveals how finance officers are forecasting to lose around £129,000 in income due to the cuts during the whole of 2014/15, with car parking worth £2.6 million a year to the council.

The lost income includes £33,000 by charging just £1 after 7pm and £13,000 by having the 40p for 30 minutes option at selected sites.

A vote will take place during the next full council meeting on Tuesday, September 30 to make the reductions permanent.

The financial gap is going to be 'filled' by using the New Homes Bonus, cash from the Government as a reward for allowing more property building in the city worth £2.6 million between now and 2020.

The move has reignited the car parking dispute between both parties, with Labour calling it "unsustainable" but the Tories saying Labour "damaged" retailers with previous rises.

During Labour's year in office, which ended in June, it decided to scrap the cheaper rates and increase tariffs.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, deputy leader and cabinet member for economic prosperity, said: "This is one of our key manifesto pledges we are aiming to deliver for the benefit of the whole city.

"Labour's terrible policy of rises was ill thought-out and deeply damaging to retailers."

Councillor Richard Boorn, Labour's finance spokesman, said: "I'm very concerned about where the council's going financially - dipping into the New Homes Bonus is unsustainable.

"If we can find cheaper parking that's financially viable to the council, why would I object? I'm just against taking it from this bonus money."

Chris Wise runs Cafe Severn on the Quay, directly opposite Croft Road car park, and campaigned for the cuts alongside around 30 High Street shops.

Yesterday he said: "This is great news for us - since they cut the rates things have got better, there's no doubt about it."

Before the prices went up around 150 people signed a petition calling for it to be scrapped.

The reversals in July included coach parking for £5 instead of £10, lorry parking for £5 instead of £25, and £3 for six hours at Croft Road car park instead of £5.

The 40p for 30 minutes will apply to Cattle Market, King Street, Newport Street, St Martin's Gate, Clare Street, Commandery Road, Orchard House and Croft Road.

It also included four hours for £5 at Copenhagen Street, Cornmarket and Providence Street compared to the previous price of £6 and six hours for £7.50 at the same sites compared to £10 prior to July.

The Tory cabinet is meeting this coming Tuesday to discuss the report before it goes to full council.