The new charges for short-stay car parks are 50p for an hour, £1 for up to two hours, £2 for up to three hours and £3 for up to four hours. In the long stay car parks it costs 50p for up to one hour, £1 for up to two hours, £1.20 for up to three hours, £1.50 for up to four hours and £2 for up to 23 hours.

The most significant changes are in the previously free car parks at Bridge Place, Godmanchester, and Riverside, Huntingdon.

At Riverside, Huntingdon, a short stay section is being created where it will cost 20p to park for up to an hour and 40p for up to two hours.

In the long-stay area of Riverside and at Bridge Place, Godmanchester it will cost 20p for up to one hour, 40p for up to two hours, 60p for up to three hours and 80p for up to four.

It will then be £1.50 for a stay of up to 10 hours. On Mondays to Fridays parking for more than 10 hours (up to 23 hours) will cost £4.80.

The car park ticket machines at Riverside and Bridge Place will be running a trial to have the facility to take payment by credit or debit card but this will not be available initially, as arrangements with the card companies are still being finalised.

>> Full details of the new arrangements, which see changes to the status of car parks as well as new charges, are available on the district council's website www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk.