AN Altrincham trader fears increased car parking charges will drive him out of business.

Andrew Brennan, of Funky fever fancy dress shop in Oakfield Street, spoke out after parking charges trebled.

The price of parking has gone up in local authority car parks and on-street charging areas, borough-wide, from 20p to 70p for 30 minutes and from 50p to £1.50 for two hours.

Andrew, who works in his partner Jane Hesford's shop, claims that this will deter shoppers from coming to the town centre.

He said business has been going well but thinks the parking price hike will have a devastating effect.

"These increases are ridiculous. Things had been fine, nobody minded paying 20p to park but now I think Altrincham will become deserted.

"We are a very small shop and this will just drive us out of business.

"They want people to go shopping in Altrincham but it will be dead in a year - nobody will pay these sort of prices."

He added: "The council should think about the small shop owners and what it does to their businesses."

Trafford Council said it remains committed to supporting and investing in its town centres to ensure they remain vibrant and prosperous.

It reaffirmed that the increases in car parking charges across the borough were part of this year’s budget proposals, and were necessary to ensure the council met the budget pressures it faces. The new prices are now frozen for three years.

It pointed out that as part of the overall council budget review, a six week public consultation involving residents and businesses was carried out between November and December last year.

Before any final decisions were made, the council took into account the views and comments received as part of its public consultation with residents and businesses.

A council spokesman added: “The ongoing regeneration of Altrincham is encouraging further investment in the town and there are a number of regeneration projects planned or underway.

“Whilst there will be some loss of parking during development of these schemes once they are complete there will be an overall increase in the parking in the town.”

Altrincham has had low parking charges since 2011 when the council slashed the rates in a bid to boost the borough’s town centres.

This move followed a three week public consultation which received views from residents and businesses about how the council could improve parking issues to attract more visitors.

This showed people wanted a low cost or free initial charge to encourage people into the town centres.

At the time, shoppers were able to park for 10p for an hour in local authority car parks and on-street charging areas. Two hour stays cost 30p while it was 70p for three hours.