CAR parking rates in Bury are going up for the second inflation-busting time in less than a year.

From January 30, drivers will pay between 10 and 20 per cent more to park in the town centre. The increases will apply to both public car parks and on-street parking bays, and vary according to the location. Prices last went up nine months ago.

Town hall bosses say that charges are normally reviewed in April, but the rises are being brought in early to help the councils dire budget position. The authority is trying to find savings of £10 million, and has warned of up to 75 job losses. The move should bring in an extra £150,000 a year. They add that the increases have been skewed to discourage long-stay parkers.

In car parks, the rates go up from £1.10 to £1.30 for two hours, and from £1.50 to £1.70 for three hours. Four hours at the Castle Leisure Centre moves from £1.80 to £2, and elsewhere the rate for parking over three hours goes from £3 to £3.50. Town centre on-street parking increases from 60p to 70p for 30 minutes (from 50p to 60p in some zones), from £1.20 to £1.40 for one hour (£1 to £1.20 in some zones), and from £1.70 to £2.10 for two hours (or from £1.60 to £2).

Contract parking permits are also going up. The annual rate for weekday parking rises from £520 to £570, while the Monday-Saturday price moves from £650 to £700.