PARKING charges in Huddersfield could shoot up by 70%.
The wallet-busting increase would see people forking out an extra £2 a day, taking the charge up to £4.80, to park in the 2,000 long-stay parking spaces in the town centre.
The move by Kirklees Council - after suggestions from travel bosses elsewhere in West Yorkshire - would raise an extra £750,000 a year.
But it would also see a 25% cut in the numbers of long-stay parkers.
The moves were outlined by travel bosses at a West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority meeting.
Experts think the changes would see fewer cars coming into Huddersfield during rush hours and also believe that more people would car share.
The money raised by increased parking charges would be put into the public transport system.
Officials are looking at the possibility of increasing the frequency of buses or even using `hail and ride' buses on routes to the town centre.
Kirklees Council bosses believe that a cut of 500 cars would see a 6% fall in congestion.
But the free 500 spaces in car parks would then be made into special spaces - aimed at car sharers or those using environmentally-friendly vehicles.
The proposals are part of a Transport Innovation Fund bid package.
The council would be given money from the Government, development agency Yorkshire Forward and West Yorkshire public transport provider Metro to develop its transport network.
Kirklees Cabinet member for highways Clr Martyn Bolt said the Government was still examining the TIF bid.
He added: "A lot of people work outside Kirklees and they are using the M62.
"If we can give them good- quality parking and they can use public transport to travel to their jobs, i.e. in Leeds, then we are keeping cars off the roads.
"If you park in Leeds you will find there are not many places in the centre you can park for £4.80 all day.
"It's a lot more than that."
