OVERNIGHT parking charges will double and the mobile library service will close, in new budget proposals by the Isle of Wight Council, revealed today.

While council tax will increase by 4.99 per cent for each household, the budget could also see some services rising in cost.

Fees for using the Isle of Wight Crematorium will increase by seven per cent (which could bring in a further £120,000 for the council).

The council is looking to double the cost of overnight parking charges from £1 to £2. This could bring in a further £80,000, but also have additional benefit of promoting sales of permits too, the council believes.

Events could be charged for parking suspensions, which are currently free. Initially this would be £50 per road per event, increasing to £75 in 2022/23 and £100 in 2023/24.

There will be partially reduced opening hours at Dinosaur Isle Museum and Newport Roman Villa, and the closure of Lord Louis Library, Newport, for one day a week.

The council also announced the closure of the mobile library service. The council said: "The popularity of the service is in decline so the council is looking at supporting users into its home library and online services. Research has shown that most of the users of the service also visit the libraries."

Reintroducing long stay car park charges at Maresfield Road, East Cowes, is also on the cards.

There will also be changes to the Local Council Tax Support Scheme, including reducing the level of support from 70 per cent to 65 per cent (consulted upon during summer 2020, and approved by Full Council in January).

The council hopes to raise some money by introducing new beach huts at St Helens. Additional income will come from the introduction of up to 32 new beach huts over two years, 'sold' on a ten-year lease with annual payments to the council.

The council will also explore the provision of a re-use shop at Lynnbottom Tip.

More money will be spent on adult social care and children’s services, totalling £6 million.

Substantial new capital investment in the Island of over £55 million will be achieved through spending council capital to leverage additional government support for coastal defences (£40.7 million), schools (£6.4 million), Branstone Farm project (£2.9 million), Disabled Facilities Grant (£1.9 million), highways improvements (£1.3 million), IT infrastructure (£1.2 million) and Compulsory Purchase Orders (£750,000).

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The budget will be presented to the council for approval on February 24.