The councillor behind proposals to extend parking charges to include evenings and Sundays has said it could be rolled out across North Herts if a planned trial is successful.

Councillor Julian Cunningham, responsible for transport issues at North Herts District Council, said at a meeting last week that Hitchin had been put forward to test the scheme because of the amount of parking in the town but said further charges would be introduced at council-owned car parks across North Herts if it was a deemed a success.

If agreed, the proposals – which have led to a petition being launched which has so far gained more than 2,000 signatures – would see an overnight charge introduced from 6pm-8am, a Sunday charge, and increased daytime prices.

Mr Cunningham, who needs to raise 16.6 per cent income – equating to £240,000 – across the district from parking charges, said: “The reality of why Hitchin was chosen is all the figures we have show Hitchin has a significantly greater amount of parking than Baldock and Royston.

“If the Hitchin trial is successful, I give you my word it will be applied elsewhere.”

The Hitchin trial was set to start next month until April 2015, but Mr Cunningham said he now didn’t expect any scheme to begin until January.