YOUR SAY: What do you think of the car parking price hike?

High Peak Borough Councillors agreed the rise at its full council meeting last month.

This will come into force when the new financial year for 2016/2017 starts on April 1.

Sam Cooke, 23, from Buxton, said: “I don’t agree with the rise, it’s already quite expensive.

“There have been cuts to things like police so I can see that if they put the cost of parking up it might cover some of the difference, but I still don’t think it’s right.”

Currently motorists pay £1.30 for one-to-two hours in Buxton car parks on Market Street, Market Place, The Slopes, Eagle Parade, South Street, Bridge Street and Sylvan Park - but this will go up to £1.40.

Another 20p will be added to stays of two-to-three hours, and more than four hours will rise to £3.50 in some car parks.

Tanya Bones, 32, from Chapel-en-le-Frith, said: “The prices are going up and it is already expensive.

“I drive but have started getting the train into Buxton because it is cheaper. You can stay for longer and not worry about being slapped with a parking ticket if you don’t get back in time to renew it.

“All I think will happen is that more people will turn to park on the streets where there is free parking on the outskirts of town and walk in, so these streets will become more busy and dangerous.”

This decision comes after austerity cuts from the government and the council is trying to gain more revenue to bridge the gap.

However, Linda McPhee, 38, from Harpur Hill, said: “The cost of parking is driving people away.

“My partner drives me to work so I don’t have to pay to park. If we do need to come into town we park behind Argos where it is free parking, and it’s cheaper to park on Iceland if you only have a little bit of shopping to do and then claim your pound back in the shop, even if it is a bit of a mither.”

Motorists who hold a resident parking permit will be given an extra free hour between 10am and 11am Monday to Saturdays.

Stephen Gould, 26, from Buxton, said: “It is not terrible. At the end of the day we are paying to store our cars while we shop.

“It is a necessary cost. It’s not great, but what option is there?

“The price won’t deter me from shopping in town if I need to.”

Tourists who don’t hold a residents parking permit are set to feel a sting in the pocket.

Dan Burgess, from Bolton, likes to visit the High Peak whenever he can get time off from work.

The 43-year-old said: “It isn’t that expensive here. In Manchester, parking is about five or six pounds and that’s just for a short stay.

“I can see it bothering people, but for a tourist destination the prices aren’t as ridiculous as other places.”

Lower-price tickets for short stay car parking, however, will remain frozen.

Drew Hunter, 45, from Harpur Hill, said: “Residents should always get free parking, although there isn’t much in the town now apart from coffee shops and charity shops.”