UK’s most expensive car parks revealed – how many are near where you live?

Britain’s most expensive municipal car parks have been unveiled.

Local authorities have been accused of treating motorists like a “money cow” as they try to hike parking fees amid a cost of living crisis.

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And now a new study has uncovered the huge disparities in prices across the country.

Figures show local authorities in this country rake in around £1.8 billion a year from parking fees alone.

An analysis conducted by MailOnline shows that the country’s most expensive car park has been found in Manchester City Council’s King Street West development.

Here drivers have to shell out a whopping £5.70 an hour – or £32.50 for a 24-hour stay.

Motorists also have the option of getting an annual permit for £1,810.

In joint second place are the City of London and Brighton, where drivers have to pay a staggering £2.05 an hour to get out of their tank

In third place comes Newcastle, where Geordies are forced to part with £2.40 an hour.

John O’Connell, chief executive of campaign group TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Residents are fed up with being treated like cash cows by their local government.

“Parking can be a lucrative source of income, but charging large sums of money from motorists doesn’t seem to have stopped local authorities from ramming up council taxes anyway.

“Bosses need to look at the bigger picture and think about how these fees are affecting local residents and struggling businesses.”

In stark contrast, Leeds is offering a price of just 40p at its facilities in Otley outside the city.

Several car parks in Milton Keynes now charge just 50p an hour.

It comes after it was revealed drivers could be stung by increases of up to 10 per cent as councils plan to increase fees.

A number of councils, including those in York, Southend, Thanet and the London Borough of Waltham Forest, have already announced that they will increase parking charges by double-digit percentages from April.

In even more extreme steps, Cornwall Council plans to increase the price of an hourly ticket at tourist hotspots by 29 per cent to £2.20.

Dudley Council will increase the cost of a day ticket by 43 per cent to £5, while Bristol City Council will double prices at popular attractions.

Price increases not only affect car owners, but some municipalities are extending charging times into the late evening and charging in previously free areas and increasing parking fines.

However, council officials have defended the increases, saying they need the extra money to fund services like social care as prices spiral out of control.