DRIVERS using council car parks will see their charges increase from next month, with some season ticket prices rising by hundreds of pounds.

Prices for both residents parking and season tickets will increase, with some drivers facing bills exceeding £1,000 to park all year.

Wiltshire Council say season tickets still offer considerable cost savings for drivers.

Following a consultation in 2017, charges will be increased to be brought into line with those for all season tickets over the next three years. The latest changes come into force from November 17.

In Chippenham, annual season tickets for Sadlers Mead and Bath Road will increase from £730 to £1,010 and in Marlborough’s George Lane, Hyde Lane and Kennet Place car parks they will go up by £200 to £800.

The Wharf car park in Devizes will also go up from £600 to £800, however the Castle Grounds car park in the town will see no increase, and remain at £561.50 a year.

A residents 12 month permit in Malmesbury Station Road car park jumps from £200 to £320, Borough Fields car park in Royal Wootton Bassett will increase by £100 to £324 and Wood Street to £300. All Calne car parks will go up £50 to £250 a year.

Cllr Gavin Grant, who campaigned successfully to stop Sunday charges being introduced, said: “This is penalising our market towns who are working really hard to encourage people to visit, and it is being introduced at the critical time just before Christmas.

“This is hitting employees and traders in the High Street who don’t really have a choice abut where they can park. There is little or no justification for an increase by as much as 60 per cent in some areas. Business that are at the heart are being affected. People are getting notifications through and are horrified.”

Cllr Bridget Wayman, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for highways, said: “The season ticket price change, has been planned and well-documented for some time, and was introduced following detailed consultation in 2017. Residents permits will increase in price over the next four years across the county to bring them into line with the cost of a season ticket.

“The first increase was introduced on November 19 2018 and the last is due on the same day in 2021. We didn’t want to have duplicate schemes operating in our car parks at different prices – residents permits alongside season tickets – so we are gradually aligning their rates, which we believe is fair. Season tickets still offer a considerable saving against the all-day charge in our car parks.” Leader of the opposition Cllr Ian Thorne added: “Wiltshire Council is right to adjust prices but I think what has left people scratching their heads is why the increase has been so significant.

“There isn’t a good reason why Wiltshire Council is penalising these people specifically.

“They changed their mind on the Sunday charges, and I hope with reasoned arguments they might change their mind again on these increases.”