CAR parking fines are set to rocket by more than 30 per cent in the Suffolk Coastal area, it emerged today. Motorists leaving their cars longer than their tickets allow face an increased charge from £30 to £40 or £80 if not paid within seven days.

CAR parking fines are set to rocket by more than 30 per cent in the Suffolk Coastal area, it emerged today.

Motorists leaving their cars longer than their tickets allow face an increased charge from £30 to £40 or £80 if not paid within seven days. HGV charges will be £100 or £200 if not paid within seven days.

Seaside car parking charges in the area are also set to increase.

The move is part of a number of measures agreed by Suffolk Coastal district councillors to bring in an extra £259,000 of income to the cash-strapped council.

Councillor Andy Smith said: “I wish that we did not have to introduce many of these changes but we have been left with no choice.

“In looking for relatively painless ways of increasing the revenue we identified that some of the rates in our tourist or seaside car parks are very low by modern standards and we are looking to increase them to levels which remain good value for money.

The council's cabinet recommended no price increases in town centre car parking for the second year in a row.

Mr Smith said: “Our recommendations will mean that there will be no price change for users of the vast majority of our town centre car parks. We recognize the importance of supporting the vitality and viability of our district's shops and are freezing those tariffs at their 2006 levels.”

The district council is currently facing a £850,000 budget shortfall.

Mr Smith added: “The continuing failure of central government to properly fund its share of the cost of our services means that we have once again had to review all aspects of our services to identify yet more income and efficiencies.

“Our review of all our car parks has identified some inconsistencies that we have tried to iron out.

“I hope the overall result will be to improve the effectiveness of our car parks in supporting the district's commercial, tourist, residential and environmental life.”

Changes include abolishing charges at the Riverside car park in Melton and not charging at Woodbridge station before 9am. It is expected charges will be introduced in Aldeburgh during the winter months and charges are set to be introduced for The Hill in Wickham Market.

Mr Smith added: “We want to bring in reasonable rises in those car parks that are predominantly used by tourists and increase some of our season ticket and long stay charges.”

What do you think? Should prices increase? How should the council save money? What do you think? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk