The cost of using council leisure facilities and car parks is set to rise in Shropshire in a bid to plug a £7.1 million financial black hole.

The price hikes are also expected to hit taxi licences, crematorium fees and the Meals on Wheels service which delivers hot and frozen food to the elderly and the infirm.

Under the plans by Shropshire Council, motorists could face paying an extra 20p for an hour’s parking while Sunday charges could rise by 50p and the cost of all day parking in the Smithfield car park in Bridgnorth car park will increase by £1 to £11.

Some all day parking charges will remain frozen, while others will see increases of 50p.

Under a title headed “fairer charging” people who using the Meals on Wheels service would see the cost of a pre payment block of cards for frozen meals rise by £1 with the cost of a block of three cards rising by £2.

Adult non-members of the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre in Shrewsbury will have to shell out an extra 90p to swim under changes to the leisure services tariffs and the cost of hiring out a sports hall will rise including one which is set to increase by up to £16.20.

Crematorium fees are set to bear a “minimal” increase based on gas price inflation while the increases in the cost of using leisure facilities will help save £310,000.The proposed increases would not take effect until April.

A report to the council’s cabinet, which will discuss the matter on Wednesday, says: “The 2010/11 budget strategy includes a savings target of £7.1 million and the proposed increases in charges for leisure centres, car parking, meals on wheels, taxi licences and crematorium contribute to the council’s savings target.”