Plans to increase parking charges in Southend have been branded "ludicrous" by Tory councillors.

They blasted the Lib-Dem and Labour council, claiming the hike would turn shoppers away from the town.

Council chiefs defended the increases as part of a strategy to radically overhaul the town's transport problems.

Shoebury Conservative Verina Wilson said that increasing the parking charges was too much and would only encourage people to shop at places like Lakeside.

She added: "I'm very surprised that we are pitching our prices so much higher than the other car park operators in the town.

"This budget is a clear indication of how much worse we are going to be."

Southchurch Tory Anne Holland said the council was "shooting itself in the foot" by increasing charges.

Eastwood Conservative Roger Weaver said the increases were "ludicrous" and they did not make "any financial sense".

He added: "People can park for two hours and pay 80p. Then they can come back and pay another 40p and that's saved them 30p on the three hour charge of £1.50."

Tory councillors also claimed council chiefs were slashing desperately needed cash from the town's highways.

Lib Dem Jean Sibley, chairman of the planning and transportation committee, defended the increased charges as part of a bigger strategy.

She said: "With parking charges, you might not like what we have done, but there is a strategy there to keep short-term parking but deter long-term parking."

Mrs Sibley denied Southend Council had cut back on highways expenditure.

She explained the Government grants for next year looked wrong and it was agreed for a cross party delegation to visit transport ministers and lobby for more money.

She added: "It all means we have had to make some extremely difficult decisions for next year."

The new parking charges would not come into force until approved at the full council meeting on February 25.

Town centre car parks and Clifftown zone (proposed new fees in brackets)

Up to 1 hour 40p (40p)

Up to 2 hours 80p (80p)

Up to 3 hours £1.20 (£1.50)

Up to 4 hours £1.80 (£2.20)

Up to 5 hours £2.40 (£2.90)

Up to 6 hours £3 (£3.60)

Up to 7 hours £3.60 (£4.30)

Over 7 hours £4.20 (£5)

Seafront car parks and charged on-street parking bays along the seafront

Up to 1 hour 50p (50p)

Up to 2 hours £1 (£1)

Up to 3 hours £1.50 (£1.50)

Up to 4 hours £2 (£2.20)

Up to 5 hours £2.60 (£2.90)

Up to 6 hours £3.20 (£3.60)

Up to 7 hours £3.80 (£4.30)

Over 7 hours £4.40 (£5)

District car parks

(Note: Parking at Broadway car park, Thorpe Bay, restricted to two hours)

Up to 1 hour 30p (30p)

Up to 2 hours 60p (60p)

Up to 3 hours 90p (£1.50)

Up to 4 hours £1.20 (£2.00)

Over 4 hours £2 (£2.50)

Annual parking season tickets

Special comprehensive £420 (£450)

Comprehensive £290 (£310)

Farringdon Monday to Friday £190 (£205)

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.