PLANS to extend parking charges in Liverpool city centre until 8pm should be scrapped, a council inquiry has recommended.

The parking panel’s report released last night slammed the authority’s consultation on the proposal to extend charges from 6pm to 8pm to raise £60,000, saying in future it needed to be more "open and transparent".

It suggests a number of ways of raising the cash including more pay and display parking at places that are currently free to park.

The report also states the possibility of equalising charges across the city centre, which could mean a 30% hike in prices in the outer areas like Hope Street and London Road.

Charging for parking on Sunday should also be reviewed the panel said, this is unlikely to result in free parking but it could mean a flat fee is introduced.

Officials should also be given authority to lobby government for greater enforcement powers and the right to impose higher fines, the inquiry found.

The inquiry was set up by the Liberal Democrat administration in response to an outcry caused by budget plans to raise £60,000 by extending parking hours.

Liverpool would become the only northern city to charge to park on its streets after 6.30pm, if the new parking regime were introduced.

The ruling executive board agreed to put the plans on hold until the inquiry had concluded.

Findings from the inquiry will now be sent to the council’s regeneration select committee before being sent to the ruling executive board for consideration.

Chairman of the panel Lib-Dem Cllr Stuart Monkcom said: "I think this is a common sense conclusion, particularly as we have come up with alternative proposals which may not only raise the same amount of revenue but actually more."