CAR parking charges are to be hiked to help keep next year's Wychavon District Council taxes down.

The increases, which would be equivalent to a 12.5 per cent rise in council tax cross the Vale and Broadway, have been slammed as a "stealth tax" by a member of the Liberal Democrat opposition on Wychavon District Council.

Councillor Liz Tucker hit out after the ruling Conservative group that voted for the rise on Tuesday.

From February 1, short stays in Evesham and Pershore's car parks, which will be limited to a maximum of two hours, will rise from 30p to 50p an hour and from 50p to £1 for two hours.

In Broadway, which will maintain a maximum of four hours for short stays, rates will be: one hour, 50p (up from 40p); two hours, £1 (80p); three hours, £1.50 (£1.20) and four hours, £2 (£1.60).

Long-stay charges across the district will be: two hours, £1 (up from 50p); three hours, £1.50 (80p); four hours, £1 (£1.20) and 10 hours, £3 (£2).

An annual season ticket will cost £200 - up from £150. A quarterly season ticket will rise from £42 to £60 and a monthly one from £18 to £25.

The council's executive board member for resources, coun Clive Holt, said: "These slight increases mean that, next year, we can keep our council tax bills down, which benefits all our 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 even more demands on councils without earmarking funding.

"The council has to use its assets effectively for the benefit of everyone and, compared to neighbouring authorities, our car park charges are still among the lowest."

Coun Tucker, however, said: "If it was the Government doing this, we would be hearing a lot about stealth taxes."

She added: "One of my worries is the people who use these car parks are often people who wouldn't be eligible to pay council tax, who come in from the rural areas and come in from the villages."

She claimed the hike was being use as "a substitute for council tax".

Extra cash raised from the increases will be channelled into improving and refurbishing car parks.