TAMESIDE is the most expensive place to park in Greater Manchester apart from the city centre, figures reveal.

Following criticism of Tameside Council’s plans to increase parking charges, the Advertiser launched a probe into pay-and-display prices elsewhere.

The investigation discovered motorists in Tameside fork out an average £2 for two hours parking — TWICE as much as shoppers in Rochdale and almost SEVEN times more than people in Bramhall.

Of the car parks surveyed, Ashton is one of just three towns to charge on a Sunday and the only one to demand a fee after 6pm.

New pay-and-display machines were installed borough-wide last year requiring motorists to punch in their licence plate number. It was brought in to stop drivers passing tickets to each other when they leave.

And according to the town hall budget, charges will be increased four per cent, bringing in an extra £56,000 for the council.

Councillor Roy Oldham has defended the rise, claiming a significant chunk of the revenue is donated to local charities.

But business leaders claim yet another rise will prompt shoppers to vote with their feet.

Colin Foster, Tameside spokesman for Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: "Our Tameside members are very concerned by the proposal to increase the cost of parking.

"Tameside car parks are already among the highest charges in Greater Manchester. Another increase would make Tameside a very unattractive place to visit.

"It’s ironic that Bramhall sits in quite an affluent area of Stockport, yet is the cheapest of those surveyed.

"Why should someone pay through the nose to park in the centre of Ashton or Hyde, when they can park at a retail park or a supermarket for free?

"If anything parking charges need to come down or at least be frozen so Tameside shops will be more competitive."

A response from Tameside Council did not arrive by the time we went to press.