Parking charges across Ashford and Tenterden are to increase by 10% later this year - despite fears it will put people off visiting the town centres.

Councillors voted through proposals to hike fees for the first time in three years, bringing the majority of fares up to £1.30 per hour.

The changes, which will come into effect from October 1, will only apply to Ashford Borough Council-run car parks and on-street parking in the borough.

Those with season tickets or parking permits will not be affected by the increase, but Cllr Bernard Heyes, who represents the Repton ward for the Conservatives, described the move as "regrettable".

"A lot of people have to come into town with a car and we need the town centre to be used," he said.

"The inflation rate is below 10% [currently 7.9%] and there has been a reduction in bus services.”

The charges were confirmed in the second-ever cabinet meeting of the new Ashford Independent-Green coalition, which took power from the Conservatives after the local elections in May.

New ABC leader Cllr Noel Ovenden, who represents Wye for the Ashford Independents, said the increase is "significantly lower than across Kent".

His deputy Cllr Steve Campkin (Green) added: "This is the first time parking charges have increased since April 2020, and inflation alone outstrips the rises proposed so we feel a 10% increase is reasonable in consideration of this.

“We don’t want to use car parking charges as a green tax as this disproportionately targets the less affluent among us, we’re far more interested in providing infrastructure to encourage walking, cycling and public transport, but some people will still need to use private cars and we need to accommodate everyone.”

Elsewhere in Kent, Maidstone Borough Council charges £1.35 an hour, but Folkestone and Hythe District Council usually demands £1.60 and Canterbury City Council wants £2.50.

Dover District Council hiked its charges from £1.30 an hour to £1.60 (23%) in April last year.

In a statement, ABC said its car parking costs have risen, with electricity bills for sites going up by £173,000.

The authority will continue to offer free parking in some of its car parks after 3pm, and blue badge holders will also remain entitled to three hours free parking.

All council-run car parks and the town centre high streets will remain free to park in after 6pm.

Cll Sally Gathern (Lab) supported the move, saying: “We want people to cycle, walk and take the bus, as with increased bus use that you get a better service.”