Drivers using “premium” council-run car parking spaces in Brighouse town centre face a  “drastic” hike of 400 per cent in the fees they will be paying, says a concerned ward councillor.

This week, Calderdale Council Cabinet members approved changes which will affect the town, as well as some spaces in Halifax and Hebden Bridge, all described as “premium” slots, mainly on-street bays.

Brighouse increases approved include short stay pay and display one hour bays at Commercial Street, Bradford Road, King Street, Market Street, Gooder Street and Briggate, which will see rates rise from 20p to £1 for the half hour slots and from 40p to £2 for the one hour slots.

It is estimated the Brighouse changes will raise around £100,000 for the council.

On-street spaces are also being reduced as a result of Town Deal regeneration projects which will in turn increase demand on them, councillors heard.

But ward councillor Howard Blagbrough said businesses feared impact on their trade.

“Short-stay parking in Brighouse will skyrocket by 400 per cent under these proposed plans by this Labour Cabinet.

“Local residents and businesses are still reeling from the unexpected blow of last year’s increases, which were hard enough, but these new proposals show a complete disregard for the impact these increases will have,” he said.

Coun Blagbrough (Con, Brighouse) said the “drastic” charges risked deterring people from shopping and visiting Brighouse and could jeopardise work being done using £19.1 million Town Deal funding.

“I’ve already seen one business relocate because residents are choosing to shop elsewhere to avoid parking charges…I urge the Cabinet to reconsider these proposed massive increases,” he said.

But Cabinet member for Regeneration and Transport, Coun Sarah Courtney, said on-street tariffs were often set at a higher level to encourage motorists to use the – usually cheaper – car parks, leaving central spaces free for those who really needed them.

A town centre “clogged up” with vehicles hunting for cheap on-street spaces was not going to be “safe, vibrant and economically successful,” she said.

Coun Courtney (Lab, Calder) said: “An increase in tariff will also help to encourage motorists to change their habits and to park in the nearby car parks now, so that disruption is minimised when available spaces are reduced by town centre improvements.

“Analysis of on-street and off-street parking data indicates that even at peak times there were over 160 spaces available in off-street car parks, and so there is plenty of capacity to absorb vehicles from the central streets.”

Blue badge holders are exempt from the changes, she said.

Coun Courtney said: “In essence, the demand for parking is high in Brighouse and the aim of these charges is to get people to park in the outer car parks for anything other than the shortest of stays.

“The car parks still offer good value for money in the context of charges in other comparable towns.

“There is no reason at all why Brighouse should not continue to thrive both now and after the Town Deal investment.”