Car parking charges in Ashford are going up by more than four times the rate of inflation.

But the costs are only catching up with the higher charges of Canterbury and Folkestone.

From next Thursday, costs in Ashford per hour shoot up from 80p to 90p, a rise of 12.5 per cent compared with the latest rate of inflation of 3 per cent.

But charges in Canterbury city centre are already as much as 90p an hour and in Folkestone it is £1.10 in the town centre.

The new Ashford prices brought a mixed reaction from traders and drivers in the town centre.

Diane Lewis, of the Chocolate Box newsagent in Ashford High Street, said: “It is concerning because it could put people off from coming to the town centre.”

But motorist Rebecca Copeland, of Pilgrim Spring Folkestone, said: “It is still cheap because car park charges are even higher in in my town.”

Driver Gill Richardson, of Shadoxhurst, said: “I’d rather not pay more but if it has to go up, it has to go up.”

Ashford Borough Council says there will also be equivalent increases in long stays of four or more hours, coach parking and season ticket costs.

And on-street pay and display charges will come in line with car park ones to give town centre residents more chance to park near their homes.