Canterbury City Council rakes in £2.5 million a year from car parking, it was revealed this week.

The figure emerged as councillors debated whether the cost of central car parks in Canterbury should rise by 10p an hour.

Members of the Canterbury Area Member Panel discussed the increase at its meeting on Monday night.

Lib Dem Alex Perkins accused the ruling Conservative group of using car parking as a “cash cow”.

He said: “To increase the charge by 10p an hour seems absurd. We as councillors need to be concerned about the people who make a living in the city and parking charges are just one more problem.

“This cash cow generates around £2.5 million a year. I think this is a step too far.”

The plans include raising the hourly cost of parking at Watling Street and Queningate from £1.20 to £1.30, Northgate, Longport and Station Road West would switch from 90p to £1 while the other central car parks would rise from £1 to £1.10.

Cllr Ida Linfield, another Lib Dem, fears the rise would encourage parking in residential streets.

“People living on the fringes of Canterbury are already having problems because of people parking there,” she said.

Richard Jenkins, the senior transportation officer, said running the district’s car parks cost about £4.5 million a year, but netted the council £7 million a year.

“The 10p increase is intended to be reasonably small,” he said.

Council chief executive Colin Carmichael added: “We want people to use park and ride and make it unattractive to park in the city centre.”

The issue will go to the council’s overview committee before it goes to the executive for a decision at its February 2 meeting.

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