A CHARGE hike of 10,000 per cent is one option being considered by New Forest district council in a bid to solve Ringwood's long-stay parking crisis.

A proposed priority system for local traders could mean their paying up to £500 a year for the better chance of a space in the congested Furlong site.

Another option in replacing the parking clock would be building another storey on top of the existing car park and running it commercially.

The chamber of trade and commerce is now questioning businesses in the town to find out how they think the problem should be solved.

They are asking members for their views on the possible solutions, and also how much they would be willing to pay for them.

The long-stay and neighbouring lorry parks are regularly over-used, with vehicles parking on double yellow lines and others boxed in, as desperate drivers cram into spaces that really are not there.

The problem is partly blamed on a number of firms using the site as a park-and-ride pick-up point, from which they bus workers to Bournemouth.

Other commuters use the park before travelling on to London or Southampton, and organised day coach trips are being based on leaving cars in the Furlong.

This means that there is little space left for those who work in Ringwood, and there has been a backlash from traders.

New Forest district council's cabinet has already resolved to reduce the limit from 20 hours to nine for cars parking in the Furlong, but it is also looking at other options.

It is hoped the reduced limit will solve the problem of park-and-ride users, whom Mayor of Ringwood Michael Thierry believes are "misusing" the car park.

But he feels the town will always have a problem because of its position on the A31.

He said: "There are too many cars not only wanting to occupy the legal spaces but also filtering into the on-street positions, which I think is causing distress and inconvenience to residents.

"And for many of the cars in the car park, the folks are not actually in our town, which is a misuse of the space."

NFDC is meeting Ringwood chamber of trade and commerce next month, as part of its consultation on how best to proceed.

"I'm always very pleased with the input the chamber puts into any debate," said Mr Thierry, who is also in the NFDC cabinet as portfolio member for the environment.

"We're very much partners in this, as we want the best for the town, bearing in mind the limitations."

The chamber has issued questionnaires to about 200 businesses in order to gauge opinion.

The survey forms include details of parking costs across Hampshire, which next year will range from £240 in Havant to £1,400 in Southampton.

This is to show that any priority places for business would have to cost much more than the current £5 parking clocks that can be used in the Furlong.

"People have to be aware of what it is going to cost, and we want to get everything on the table," said chamber president Nicki Wood. "It is a major problem for everybody in the town and we are trying to solve it."

Ms Wood said that feedback so far had shown a split in opinion about what people were willing to pay.

It is believed NFDC is considering a charge of £2 per day if it were to introduce priority spaces, which would mean an annual cost of £500.

But this might be considered too high, and could be reduced to a more acceptable yearly fee, depending on viability and the responses to the chamber's survey.

All questionnaires and feedback should be returned to the chamber of trade and commerce by September 1, ahead of its talks with the district council.