MOTORISTS are facing a raft of on-street car parking charge hikes across Devon.

The county council has said that it is increasing prices by up to 10 per cent as it says it will help reduce congestion on busy roads.

It is the first car parking charge increase in five years, but will see a 10 per cent increase for those stopping for more than one hour, and a 10 per cent equivalent increase on all long-stay charges.

The move was rubber-stamped at a meeting of Devon County Council’s Cabinet committee earlier this month, and the charges will now be rolled out countywide.

Cllr Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for parking and traffic management, said: “By getting drivers to select off-street car parks rather than circling the roads looking for the cheaper option it will help us better manage traffic.

“There hasn’t been an increase in on-street parking tariffs since April 2011 and since then there has been an increase in the Retail Price Index of 15 per cent in the five years to September 2015.

“But this isn’t about raising money, it’s about traffic management and effective traffic flow and we hope by introducing a small increase it will encourage motorists to choose the facilities operated by our district council partners.”

The charges follows concern that many drivers contribute towards congestion by preferring to ‘circle’ the roads looking for vacant slightly cheaper on-street parking bays, instead of using district, city or borough council parking facilities.

The charges will not affect residents and visitors stopping for less than one hour at the shops to buy goods or services or those making deliveries – there will be no change to short term (less than 1 hour) tariff rates.

The principle will be that DCC’s on-street bays should not be more attractive than the nearest district council car park alternative, which are clearly signed and generally do not bring drivers through the busiest central streets.

The increases will vary slightly across Devon as the county’s eight district authorities (including Exeter) levy slightly different tariffs in different areas.

Controlling parking provision within residential areas near town centres, ensuring a consistent approach to charging across the county and reducing long stay on-street parking within town centres are all part Devon County Council’s Local Transport Plan strategy to reduce congestion.