Residents could be given discounted parking rates in Canterbury after a councillor suggested the authority should only “screw some money out of the tourists”.

It has been recommended that charges across the district be increased from April as part of a controversial review of fees.

It will see motorists using the main city centre car parks having to fork out £3.50 an hour by next year.

But city council leader Cllr Ben Fitter-Harding (Con) says locals could end up paying less than visitors in the future.

The idea of discounted seasonal rates for residents was raised by Lib Dem councillor Alex Ricketts during a meeting of the authority’s regeneration committee.

It was suggested such a system could be operated using number plate recognition cameras or the parking app RingGo.

“It’s been mentioned before that we might be able to have a resident parking rate and a visitor parking rate, thanks to the ANPR accounts,” Cllr Ricketts said.

“That might also be possible with RingGo as well.

“It seems to me that every time we look at prices going up, this is a great opportunity to start the two-track solution of a resident price and a non-resident price.

“I think it would be very popular with the residents.

“It doesn’t have to be a price cut.

“It just means that if we can say there’s a seasonal price where we’re trying to screw some money out of the tourists, the residents aren’t caught in that as well – maybe don’t phrase it like that.”

Cllr Fitter-Harding, and the authority’s transport boss, say the idea will be among a range of initiatives the council will explore over the coming months.

Following the two-hour debate, Cllr Fitter-Harding told KentOnline's sister publication the Kentish Gazette that resident rates have been on the council’s radar for a while.

“Back when ANPR came into use in the district, we were in the European Union and I believe we weren’t allowed to charge differential rates depending on where someone lives,” he said.

“However, I don’t believe that is the case anymore.

“We don’t have the financial ability to have cheaper resident fees at the moment – but it’s definitely something I’d like to look at in the future.

"We can continue to ask visitors to the district to contribute more for the facilities they use and waste that they leave behind, while at the same time give residents access to lower prices.

“Residents are already contributing through their council tax. It’s definitely something we’ve been looking at for a while and something we want to do for the benefit of residents.”

Reduced rates for those living in the district can’t come soon enough for one motorist who recently used Watling Street car park.

She said: “I only went in for a healthy lunch at The Veg Box Cafe with my daughter and grandson – never again.

“The parking cost more than my meal.

“I’d much rather give my money to the hard-working independents who are trying to recover from the pandemic, but the council doesn’t seem to be doing much to encourage footfall or spending in the city centre if it’s willing to charge £13 for just over four hours’ parking.”

The committee voted to recommend the parking charge increases be approved.

It will see tariffs in Watling Street and Queningate increase to £3.50 an hour over the next two years.

Prices will also rise at a number of other car parks across Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable.

A final decision will be taken by the policy committee next week.