Kent’s most pricey parking capital is on course to make a bumper profit after levels “exceeded expectations” in the first six months of the financial year.

Council-owned spaces in Canterbury are on track to make the authority £268,000 over and above the £11 million income predicted in 2024/25.

But with fees at an all-time high, the highest in the county and proposals to raise them further in the coming months, it has sparked calls for the council to pause cashing in further.

Having increased fees in April to up to £3.70 per hour, the district has the priciest bays in Kent and is currently consulting on plans to boost them higher still.

But Canterbury City Council (CCC) opposition leader Rachel Carnac believes this would be a mistake and urges the ruling Labour-Lib Dem group to give businesses a break.

Last month, bosses at the city’s Curzon Westgate cinema stressed it would struggle to survive if rates are increased again.

Cllr Carnac (Con) said: “I’m very concerned about the parking prices going up any higher than they already are.

“Coastal businesses and those in Canterbury have been hit with a quadruple whammy in the past few years - lockdown, high energy prices, the Labour government budget, and high parking charges that discourage customers.

“I would hope that the administration might see some sense in putting the brakes on raising parking charges and letting the businesses try and survive.”

A budget monitoring forecast presented at the city council’s cabinet meeting on Monday reveals off-street parking income between April and September has “exceeded expectations” with inner-city spaces the primary source of the extra cash.

It picks out Station Road West car park in Canterbury as one of the key drivers for extra income “likely linked to the revival of train travel”, the report states.

CCC cabinet member for parking Cllr Alex Ricketts (Lib Dem) told KentOnline it indicates how popular Canterbury’s attractions are - even though visitors to the district are being charged the most.

“It's good news for the district that revenues are higher than expected as it brings in vital money to fund services such as homelessness and rough sleeping.

“The fact that the overall number of parking acts has gone up in Canterbury shows confidence in our high street.

“People want to come here, to shop, to eat, to experience culture at our theatre and museums.

“New ventures are opening up and they are bringing visitors back into the city.”

Income for on-street parking is also surpassing projections and at current rates is set to add an extra £92,000 to council coffers by the end of the financial year in March due to “increased parking activity”.

But the city’s controversial park-and-ride service is costing the public purse and is set to lose £94,000 more than first predicted.

The council’s report says this is “mainly due to increased Stagecoach contract fees” but is offset by “higher-than-expected income from the New Dover Road and Wincheap locations”.

A KentOnline investigation found that the previously mothballed Sturry Road site, which was revived in April. loses £30,000 every month and produces more CO2 emissions than it prevents.

Cllr Carnac added: “How much of these parking charges are needed to subsidise the reopening of the Sturry Road Park and Ride?

“It’s very expensive to park, and yes you can use the park and ride in Canterbury, but some people don’t want to and if you go to Whitstable or Herne Bay for the day, you don’t even have the choice.

“Residents in coastal areas like Reculver are being punished with really high rates to pay for a park and ride in a completely different part of the district.”

The council is currently collecting views from residents on plans to adjust various parking charges across Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay.

Proposed changes include raising the hourly tariff at Band-1 car parks - the most expensive - by 10p to £3.80, while all off-street bays would go up by 3%.

The local authority says these increases are needed to cover the cost of inflation and fund essential council services.

Cllr Ricketts added: “It's too early to be talking about next year, as we are in the middle of public consultation on the proposed charges and we do not want to prejudge the outcome of that.

"But what I would do is encourage everyone to give us their views on what is proposed.

“We are in listening mode on parking charges and on the wider budget for next year and public comments would be most welcome."