by Alan Smith
ajsmith@thekmgroup.co.uk

Motorists may have to dig a lot deeper to pay for the privilege of parking in the Maidstone.

And commuters could be hardest hit as the combined cost of parking and train travel to and from work would be on course to spiral to more than £6,000 a year.

The increase in parking charges is one of the more controversial proposals in the Integrated Transport Strategy put forward jointly by KCC and Maidstone council.

Among the councils’ 30-point action list is to increase long-stay parking tariffs in council-operated car parks by 50% plus inflation, and short-stay tariffs by 20% plus inflation.

That would take the cost of a three to four hour stay from £2.70 to £3.25.

Meanwhile a long-term stay of more than four hours would rise from £5 to £7.50.

The councils say they are not introducing the change as a money-raiser, but say it is one of a raft of measures intended to reduce traffic congestion in the town.

The policy states "the supply of car parking drives demand for limited road space and contributes to traffic congestion and poor air quality."

If the council were to adopt the tariff increase, it would make its long-stay parking charges far higher than those of the neighbouring boroughs of Tunbridge Wells or Tonbridge and Malling.

Surprisingly though, the short-stay fee would remain below what motorists must already pay in Tunbridge Wells.

The councils’ parking proposals were criticised by some back-bench councillors.

Jenni Paterson (Lib Dem) said: "This is too big an increase. Not everyone can walk, cycle or even have a convenient local bus. We should not be discouraging people from coming into Maidstone town centre especially during the ongoing recession."

Cllr Valerie Springett (Con) said: "I totally disagree with the policy. Increasing fees will discourage shoppers. Short stays of less than one hour should be free and other fees kept low."