DRIVERS in Bury will be hit by higher car parking charges as they are set to go up from Monday by as much as 20 per cent.

The inflation-busting rises will apply to both public car parks and on-street parking bays, and vary depending on the location.

Council bosses say the increases are necessary to cover running costs, and also to persuade people to use alternative transport.

In car parks, the rates go up from 50p to 60p for one hour and from 90p to £1.10 for two hours. The price for three hours goes from £1.30 to £1.50 (up from 90p on the market car park). Four hours (at Castle Leisure Centre) moves from £1.60 to £1.80, while elsewhere, the rate for parking more than three hours goes from £2.50 to £3 (and from £6 to £7 on some parks).

Town centre on-street parking increases from 50p to 60p for 30 minutes (from 40p to 50p in some zones), from £1 to £1.20 for one hour (80p to £1 in some), and from £1.30 to £1.70 for two hours (£1.20 to £1.60).

Contract parking permits are also going up: The annual rate for weekday parking goes from £450 to £520, while the Monday-Saturday price moves from £565 to £650.

Councillor John Byrne, council leader, said: "Percentages are irrelevant. It's about pounds, shillings and pence. It's not an attempt to rip people off. They get good value in Bury for what they pay. The rates are not out of line with other towns."

He cited Bury's local transport plan, which encourages people to use public transport and take up cycling and walking, and not use their cars so much.