Parking in Tunbridge Wells could soon cost more than in other big Kent towns if a proposed price hike is given the go-ahead.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s cabinet members are expected to vote on Monday in favour of putting plans out to public consultation, which would see daily charges in car parks rise by almost 30%.

Similarly, season tickets for car parks would increase by more than 10% in some areas.

In a report to the council, parking manager Rosemarie Bennett said: “The lack of finance resulting from reduced government funding means that we have to raise more revenue to help us improve our infrastructure, reduce congestion, improve traffic flow and address other areas of public concern, for example footway parking, as well as provide investment for additional parking space.”

Car parking charges in Tunbridge Wells went up by 20p per hour in 2012 and two years later, in 2014, customers paying by cash were subjected to another 20p rise while those paying by phone continued to pay the 2012 rate.

The council is proposing another price hike next year, of 20p an hour per tariff band when paying by phone and 40p when paying in cash.

Officers predict that implementing these increases at car parks in Crescent Road, Town Hall Yard, Royal Victoria Place, Meadow Road, Linden Park Road, Beech Street, Camden Road and Little Mount Sion will raise £450,000 in much needed revenue.

Prices would also be increased at Torrington, Great Hall, Mount Pleasant Avenue and Union House car parks but they are not included in the £450,000 estimate as they could be subject to change in the future.

The proposals would make Tunbridge Wells one of the most expensive places to park in Kent.

Drivers paying by cash would have to part with £1.80 per hour when parking for 60 minutes or less compared with £1.70 at both Maidstone’s Fremlin Walk and Whitefriars shopping centre in Canterbury.

In addition, the one-off nighttime fee, allowing vehicles to park in certain car parks between 6pm and 5am, would increase by 50%, from £1 to £1.50, making the council an estimated £32,000.

Annual car park season tickets would increase by between £25 and £100 a year, apart from in Yew Tree Road and John Street where there would be no change.

Meanwhile, residents’ on-street parking permits are set to increase from £60 to £80 in zones A, B, C, D and G.

A full breakdown of proposed price increases can be found here.