A SHAKE-UP of car parking prices which would increase most and double some has been stopped.

Reading Borough Council admitted it was wrong to try to force through the price hikes at its car parks without consultation or debate, but says an increase is due after four years without one.

At its Cabinet meeting on Monday night, borough transport leader Cllr Tony Page also said a plan to introduces charges to discourage commuters at Dunstall Close and Recreation Road shoppers' car parks in Tilehurst will be changed so the first hour is free.

Cllr Page said there would be consultation on the rises over the next few weeks, but said: "We are due an increase - the balance of those increases is perhaps up for discussion, but the increase will be a large one."

He said the council's contractors, NCP, had put a lot of investment into making the car parks better and that the increases it had asked for were "reasonable".

An NCP spokesperson said: "Our agreement with Reading Borough Council means that we provide a large level of investment into the car parks that we manage, as well as delivering a guaranteed income to the council.

"These proposed prices that we have worked together on, are the first price changes we have made since the start of our contract in 2006."

Tory leader Cllr Andrew Cumpsty, who 'called in' the original decision for full debate, said: "I'm pleased there's been this change of heart - but why wasn't this done in the first instance?"

Lib Dem leader Cllr Kirsten Bayes welcomed the re-think on the Tilehurst car parks, saying: "It will allow a short stop for people to pop into the bank or the shop but still discourage commuter parking."