A huge increase in Wychavon car park charges, to be implemented in February, has been described as a "stealth tax".

In many cases the cost of parking in Evesham will be doubled, to earn the equivalent of a 12.5 per cent rise in council tax.

"This is Wychavon's own stealth tax," said district councillor Charles Tucker. Here we have a situation where the charges are rising to avoid increasing council taxes."

Speaking at a meeting of Wychavon District Council on Tuesday, he said the move would be a particular blow to people living in villages and rural areas.

The new charges for the district's short stay car parks will be 50p for one hour, up from 30p, £1 for two hours, double the old charge, and £1.50 for three hours, an extra 50p on the old charge.

The cost of long stay parking is also rising at locations such as Bewdley Street in Evesham, Abbey Park in Pershore and Milestone Ground in Broadway. The charge for a four-hour stay, for example, is rising from £1 to £2.

Coun Audrey Steel said the increase would just bring Evesham into line with surrounding districts. "Towns like Worcester, Stratford, Cheltenham and Redditch are all considerably dearer and have been for some time," she said.

Councillors compromised on plans to reduce the maximum short-stay to two hours, settling on a limit of three.

However, Coun John Grantham said this would still have a negative effect on Pershore and the Wychavon-owned leisure centre.

"Many people who use the leisure centre would want to shop as well, and there are many events there that last more than three hours."

The three-hour maximum will affect the car parks on Pershore High Street and Oat Street and The Leys and Merstow Green, both in Evesham town centre.

The only car park in the district unaffected by the changes is the facility on Broadway High Street, retaining a four hour maximum stay.

Coun Clive Holt said the increases would benefit all residents.

"It would be necessary for a 12.5 per cent increase in council tax to produce equivalent resources, as the Government continues to make demands without earmarking funding," he said.