From April 1, Preston Council will raise prices by 10p or 20p an hour.

The rises will apply to the bus station, market, Hill Street and Avenham car parks.

The first hour's parking at the bus station, market and Avenham will be unaffected.

Preston Council said the rises were necessary to balance the books in the upcoming financial year.

But the city's hard-pressed independent traders claim the move will do nothing to help them.

Kevin Barrett, manager of school outfitters Monkhouse's in Miller Arcade said: "It's absolutely ridiculous.

"What can the council say has gone up? Preston is suffering, the town centre is dying at the moment and everyone complains about parking."

Rick Ollerton, owner of coffee shop Barako in Lune Street, said: "I never understand Preston Council.

"They don't seem to be helping the town centre much and there's so many empty shops.

"I find it bizarre.

"Everyone's finding it hard and we're all struggling."

And Babs Murphy, chief executive of the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said: "These are difficult times for local businesses and charges at this level will do little to encourage more people to shop in the city centre.

"Whilst we appreciate that the council needs to raise money, these new charges will have a detrimental effect because shoppers will simply go to the out-of-town centres where parking is free or cheaper."

Coun Eric Fazackerley, cabinet member for resources, said: "Unfortunately we have had to increase our car parking charges this year, as rising costs and the current economic downturn have meant we have had to look for new ways to raise income in order to maintain services.

"However, one of our main priorities is attracting visitors to Preston and bringing people into the city, so we have been very sensitive to this and have kept increases to an absolute minimum, with an average rise of around 10 or 20p."

Charges were last increased in February 2009 by 10 pence an hour.

And Preston council also controversially scrapped free city centre parking on Sundays and Bank Holidays – a move which has prompted many independent stores to cease trading on those days.

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