COUNCIL chiefs in Worcester are being challenged to freeze car parking charges amid concern a rise would damage retailers.

Councillor Alan Feeney has urged the city's Labour leadership to bite the bullet and hold down the prices in next year's budget.

The Conservative, who is trying to relaunch the Worcester Carnival, says the High Street would be damaged badly if the rates go up.

The last time Labour ran Worcester City Council three years they pushed up some prices despite a petition from shopkeepers against it.

After they lost control the charges were then cut back to the old rates, meaning motorists pay as little as 40p for half-an-hour at selected sites and just £1 after 7pm.

Despite the council's parking income being worth close to £3 million a year, the authority has resisted putting them up since then in a bid to help the economy.

The Labour administration has responded to Councillor Feeney by saying it is far too early to make a firm commitment now, with the 2017/18 budget not being set until February.

Councillor Feeney said: "I'm dismayed at Labour’s failure to rule out another rise in car parking charges.

"This follows their decision to ramp up charges in the city centre during their last term in office - something that caused traders to lose huge amounts of revenue when shoppers decided to go elsewhere as a result.

"I am fuming that they should take such a blasé approach to something so crucial.

"We recently rejected out-of-town shopping to protect their businesses, but here Labour are once again leaving them in limbo.

"It’s not a difficult question; will they rule out any future rise, yes or no."

But Labour Councillor Adrian Gregson, the city's leader, has accused him of trying to "bounce" them into a decision with no research or consultation.

"The issues about fees and charges will be dealt with in due course," he said.

"There is no way a Conservative administration would be making any decisions about next year's budget now.

"We aren't going to make decisions about the next budget without giving it proper consideration and going through a proper process, and I won't be bounced into making comments on it now by Councillor Feeney."

The last time the rates were cut some Labour councillors argued that it was counterproductive to the aim of cutting congestion in Worcester.

If any changes are made to the pricing it will not kick in until April next year, and will need to follow a public consultation first.