PARKING rates in parts of the county are set to rise by as much as 33 per cent from April 1, in a bid by a local authority to balance its books.

Drivers looking to park in the Ribble Valley can expect to pay more per hour this spring as the authority is set to hike up parking charges for a fourth consecutive year.

Nationwide increases were highlighted by a Local Government Information Unit think tank in February, which found 93 per cent of councils were planning to up charges for parking.

Speaking about their decision to make the changes, leader of Ribble Valley Council Ken Hind said: “While our car parking charges will go up, what we do charge is extremely low. We are the only council in Lancashire, apart from South Ribble, that doesn’t charge for green waste collection. We also have the lowest council tax for Lancashire.

“So yes, there are some minor charges we have put up in order to ensure we maintain some of those services.”

The area in the Ribble Valley which will see the biggest percentage hike in fees is Edisford, Clitheroe, where it will cost 33 per cent more to park for 30 minutes.

Also in Clitheroe, parking on the market, Lowergate Road or in the Railway View Carpark will go up by 14 per cent.

Users of these parking spaces can now expect to pay 80p for an hour, £1.40 for two hours or £8.40 for up to 10 hours.

Bigger increases are to be implemented in both Sabden and Chipping, where parking will cost 20p more than before for people looking to park for more than four hours — a rise of 16 per cent.

Despite many of the country’s local authorities choosing to increase prices for parking, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Pendle and Hyndburn councils have all confirmed their charges will remain the same for 2018/2019.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive member for regeneration, Cllr Phil Riley

was understanding of

the need to adjust prices.

He said: “Parking charges are one of the ways council’s can raise revenue but there has to be a balance between raising the correct revenue and making sure people still use town centre parking.

“The right balance needs to be struck.”