FORMER mayor Paul Henry has demanded to know why Beaconsfield has been singled out for the highest rise in long-term parking charges in South Bucks.

Town councillor Henry (Lib Dem, South Ward) also criticised fellow councillor Graham Smith for not having the figures to hand when the matter was discussed at a recent Beaconsfield Town Council meeting.

Under the new charges, motorists who want a season ticket for six months face an increase from £120 to £150, and for three-month tickets from £75 to £85.

He said Graham Smith, vice-chairman of the community and leisure committee, did not have the figures to hand to say why the price had increased so steeply.

Cllr Smith (Con, North Ward) said all the details of the issue had been discussed at a previous meeting.

He said that the charges were raised to harmonise parking charges throughout the whole of South Bucks and all the details were a matter of public record.

'There is no increase in the hourly or daily rates of parking, just the season ticket prices.'

Beaconsfield mayor Malcolm Dunlop said that the two car parks which would be affected in Burkes Road were over-loaded with cars and this had been the reason behind the increase.

He told the Free Press: 'People were driving round in circles and every time they went back into the car parks they were disappointed because there were no spaces.

'There are too many long-term parkers there and it is hoped that this is one way of helping to ease the situation.

'The short-term shoppers who pop into town could not find anywhere to park, so the prices were put up for a very sensible reason.'