Motorists slam city centre where it's cheaper to get a fine than pay 'extortionate' parking costs

Motorists have hit out at a tourism hotspot where parking is so expensive it's cheaper pay a fine for the same spot.

Fines for parking on double yellows or prohibited streets near King's Parade, Cambridge are £25 - but parking for the day costs up to £42.

The extortionate fees mean drivers actually save money by picking a spot of their choice in the historic centre and getting a parking fine.

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Famous sights, including King's College from King's Parade, are also being marred by the odd charging structure - which makes it up to £17-a-day cheaper to park illegally.

Jane Woodcock, 61, who lives on the outskirts of the city, said: 'Parking charges in Cambridge are totally barmy.

'It is ridiculous that it costs the same to legally park as it does for a fine.

'People think they might as well just take the risk of getting a ticket because it costs the same to park anyway.'

The pricing blunder has emerged with the city's Grand Arcade shopping centre car park now charging £26 to park from 9am-5pm and a further £1 for every additional hour.

Cambridge's Grafton shopping centre has two car parks, which both charge £24 to park between 9am-5pm on Saturdays and 70p for every further hour.

Fines for illegal parking in the city are £50 - halved to £25 for early payment within two weeks.

With many commuters and tourists spending up to ten hours parked in the centre it works out cheaper and more convenient for them to park on double yellow lines.

A driver who wants to park for 24 hours can make a saving of up to £42 by incurring a fine instead of leaving their vehicle in one of the multi-story car parks.

Cambridge City Council, who are responsible for setting fees, have admitted the blunder and claimed they did not consider the cost of fines, which are levied by the County Council.

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Cllr Tim Ward, parking lead at Cambridge City Council, said: 'I have no control over parking fines, which are set by the government.

'We didn’t look at fines when setting the parking charges. We didn’t think of it.

'The reason we set it at £26 in the Grand Arcade for a stay of over five hours is because traders want people to do their shopping and go, which would free up a space for another shopper so that there is a higher turnover.

'We don’t really expect many people to stay over five hours.'

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesman added: 'Parking enforcement in Cambridge is designed to prevent inconsiderate or illegal parking and as such it encourages more people to come to the city to shop or visit its many attractions and generally the measures to deter or prevent such parking are welcomed by city traders.