Parking voucher prices will shoot up from August 6 — but until then, City Hall will sell specially marked books of new vouchers at the old rate due to technical hitches.

The controversial rise in cost from $10 to $17.50 per book of ten vouchers was announced by Mayor Sutherland Madeiros earlier this month.

The aim was to reduce congestion on the streets of Hamilton by making it more expensive to park on the roads than in parking lots.

Mr. Madeiros said the fee increase would become effective with the next delivery of parking voucher books — which resulted in drivers buying up the old vouchers in bulk.

In a press release yesterday, the Corporation announced, however: "Due to unforeseen delays in the shipping of new parking vouchers for the City of Hamilton, local vendors have been unable to replenish their stocks.

"The Corporation of Hamilton apologises to the motoring public for this inconvenience.

"The new vouchers have landed on the Island and the Corporation has worked with the Department of Customs to expedite their clearance.

"These vouchers carry the new increased price of $17.50 for a book of ten, however, this new price will not take effect until Wednesday, August 6.

"To assist those who have run out of vouchers, the Corporation has decided to offer the new books at the old rate of $10 through August 5.

"These specially marked vouchers will only be available at City Hall from noon on Monday, July 28. Only one book per person will be allowed."

The costs of city pay-and-display car parks, such as Bull's Head, Bull's Head North, Laffan and Elliot Streets, will remain the same at $5 per day and free on Saturdays.

Pay-and-display car parks at No. 7, No. 8, Cavendish and King Street will still be $1 per hour, and City Hall, Par-la-Ville, No. 1 and No. 5 car parks will remain at $1.25 per hour.