HUDDERSFIELD motorists face a two-tier rise in parking charges this year.

But figures reveal charges will still be generally in line with those in neighbouring towns.

The news from Kirklees Council of price increases at long-stay car parks, such as Springwood, from next month and rises in short-stay charges in the autumn has annoyed drivers, who said prices were high enough.

But the new rates are still comparable with similar-sized towns in West and South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

Parking in Halifax, both on and off-street, is generally less expensive than in Huddersfield.

Car parks cost 50p for up to two hours, £1 for up to four hours and £1.50 for up to six hours. Stays longer than six hours are £2.

On-street parking costs 30p for a 30-minute period as opposed to the present 50p in Huddersfield.

Halifax's Cow Green multi- storey in the town centre costs £2 for more than six hours, while Bull Green car park costs £3.

In Oldham, on-street parking costs slightly more than in Huddersfield.

Charges are 60p for up to 30 minutes.

Motorists pay £1.50 to park for up to 90 minutes, the maximum time allowed.

Short-stay car parks cost £1.20 for up to two hours, while in the long-stay car parks all-day rates vary between £3.30 and £6.

Wakefield's on-street parking is the cheapest.

Rates begin at 50p for 30 minutes, with an hour costing 60p and two hours setting drivers back £1.

Short-stay car parks in Wakefield have similar pricing levels.

Long-stay charges begin at £1.50 for up to four hours.

For more than four hours, the price rises to £3.50.

Barnsley employs a two-zone system and charges higher rates for people wanting to park closer to the town centre.

In the inner zone, stays of 30 minutes and an hour cost 35p and 75p respectively.

In the outer zone, the price drops to 35p an hour and 75p for two hours.

Short-stay car parks charge the latter rate, with maximum stays of two hours.

Costs for long-stay parking begin at 95p for an hour and £1.50 up to four hours. The all-day rate is generally £3.

The cheapest parking spots in Barnsley cost £1.50 for more than four hours.

Meanwhile, over the Pennines in Burnley, short-stay car parks cost 50p an hour, with stays of up to two hours priced at £1 and those of up to four hours at £2.

In long-stay car parks, the rates are £1.50 for between two and four hours, £2 for between four and six hours and £2.50 for more than six hours.