MOTORISTS face an eye-watering £13 charge if they want to leave their vehicle for the day in any one of four Hereford car parks.

From this week new charges at the Gaol Street, West Street and Maylord Orchards car parks, plus the Shirehall on Saturday's, will see drivers forking out the hefty sum to park for more than six hours.

The prices are part of Herefordshire Council's overhaul of car park charges which came into force on Monday and which affects more than 40 council-operated sites in Hereford, Ledbury, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye.

Currently, car park chain NCP is charging £12 for six hours' parking in 20 car parks in the centre of London, including spots in Covent Garden, Victoria, Marble Arch and London Bridge.

Other increases here have seen a 60 per cent hike at Hereford's largest car park - Merton Meadow - from £3 to £5 all day - or £4 before 8am.

But one leading councillor fears the changes could impact on county businesses.

"They are using the car park charges as a revenue creation," said Cllr Terry James, the leader of Herefordshire's Lib Dem group.

"It's a tax. They are harming the traditional shopping areas of the city centre by pushing people out to supermarkets.

"It's another stab in the back for smaller businesses in the city and market towns."

There is better news for those visiting Hereford in the evening, however, with prices in many car parks cut after 6pm.

But a group supporting the interests of county businesses has also raised concern.

"Hereford has seen an influx of shoppers since the new shopping centre with 5,000 people coming to watch the switching on of the Christmas lights in 2015," said Joanie Roberts, the area relationship manager with Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce.

"The rise of Hereford Football Club is attracting an average of 2,700 people each home match and the re-opening of the racecourse in October is sure to attract more visitors to the city.

"We are pleased to see Hereford flourish and it is important that we continue to encourage visitors to the city. We are concerned that these changes to parking charges may hinder Hereford’s growth as they may discourage people from visiting the city centre.

"Similar effects have been observed in Leominster and we are concerned that the changes in Hereford will have a significant affect on local traders."

In Ledbury, Bridge Street's charges have risen from £1 for four hours to £1.50.

Etnam Street in Leominster has changed from 60p for two hours to 50p for an hour.

Meanwhile, some long stay car parks in Ross-on-Wye will prove better value.

Homs Road used to be £1 for four hours but is now the same price for 24 hours, while Edde Cross Street has gone from £1.60 for three hours to £1.50 for 24 hours.

Before Christmas, cabinet member for transport and roads, Cllr Paul Rone, said the changes are aimed at "maintaining economic prosperity, changing travel behaviours and reducing congestion during the morning commute".

"We have worked with stakeholders including town councils, Halo, Hereford Business Improvement District (BID) and others to devise a parking offer which takes into account the needs of everyone using the county’s parking facilities," he said.

"It has been a balancing act ensuring that parking facilities continue to provide value for money as well as encouraging people to think about using sustainable travel modes; we have also looked at ways to implement payment technologies that make our car parks easier to use."