'Cash cow' motorists slam most expensive council car parks in Britain - in ... trends now

Motorists have become 'cash cows' for councils, campaigners warned as a Mail audit revealed the exorbitant cost of some of England's local authority car parks.

Our study also revealed a dramatic variation in prices between councils, with some authorities charging motorists more than three times the rate of others.

Analysis of a dozen cities and large towns in England found the most expensive parking was at Manchester City Council's King Street West facility.

The multi-storey car park in the Spinningfields district charges patrons £5.70 per hour and requires motorists to fork out a staggering £32.50 for a 24-hour stay. Annual permits can set you back an eye-watering £1,810.

While some private operators offer discounted prices, they can still charge car owners up to £19.75 to leave their vehicles at their premises for just four hours.

And while less secure street spots in the dense city centre go for £3 per hour, motorists have warned of the 'vicious wardens' who patrol the area.

Dad-of-one Simon Davis, 55, who left his vehicle in Manchester City Council Bridge Street car park, charging £4.50 for one hour, said he was put off by the high prices.

But he felt 'forced' to drive into the city as train fares for his family were equally exorbitant.

The scientist said: 'I've been parking in this spot for about 30 years. The parking is not very good. They cram the cars in.

'I only come when I absolutely have to, and I come in from Crewe. But the train for the family is about £30. So I'm almost forced to drive. I spent around £9 today.

'The other day, I went by train with my child and wife, and we went for lunch and drinks and we spent £140 altogether. We could have gone to Spain for that.

He added: 'The parking wardens do fine a lot of people, but that stops them parking in stupid spaces.'

Jonah Guttentag, 38, who had driven in for a meeting with Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham today, said the price of council parking was 'absolutely ridiculous'.

The local father-of-four said: 'I'm parking here for two hours and it's absolutely ridiculous. It has cost me £6.80. I don't know who is doing this or who is making the money.

'But it definitely prevents people from coming into the city. They're just trying to make it more and more difficult. It's a tax on motorists.

'I couldn't park anywhere. I was just going round and round in a circle. The traffic is worse in Manchester than in London. I'm not making it up but they're doing it because they can.'

Forklift truck driver Trevor Wilson, 34, who'd come to Manchester for a day out with his wife and baby, said he expected to pay £10 to park in the centre of the city.

And the local dad said he had got 'loads' of tickets from 'vicious wardens' who in the past had left him feeling intimidated.

He said: 'I'm going to spend about £10. It's rubbish. It's a lot but I do come into Manchester regularly, and I'm not really put off. You've just got to stump up.

'I've got loads of tickets. The wardens are vicious. I was in Manchester recently, getting the baby out of the car, and there was a warden staring at us. It was just because I was getting out of the car.

Trevor also slated the state of Bridge Street car park, where he'd parked for the day, saying he worried that motorists might lose a tyre in its deep potholes.

He added: 'It should be a lot better. It doesn't seem right. What happens if you come out and get a flat tyre?'

Carer Lydia Gyamfi, who comes into Manchester every Thursday for work, said she wasn't happy at having to pay over £40 a month for parking.

The mum-of-four said: 'Today, I paid £9.50 for three hours. It's very, very expensive. I come in every Thursday as I work nearby. So it's around £40 a month.

'I got a ticket here before. Last time, the ticket machine wasn't working, and I put the card in but it didn't give a receipt. I think I had to pay £35 for the fine.

'But for me, I don't have a choice, I have to come to work. I come here and drop the kids and there's no time. So I often bring a car into the city as it's easier for me.

Tilly Shepherd, 23, who works as plane cabin crew, was also shocked at the price of the parking in the centre of Manchester after only having to pay 80p per hour in nearby Nantwich, Cheshire.

She had come into the city centre from the town, which is about 45 miles away, with her mum, dad and sister, and expected to spend more than £10 on their parking ticket.

She said: 'It's very expensive. It's only 80p in Nantwich. And the potholes here are dangerous. It's a lot to pay, particularly when it looks like they're not maintaining it.

'We usually come to Manchester by train but as there were four of us we

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