71193-70PARKING charges for places such as Swindon should rise by at least £2 a day to get people out of cars and on to busses, according to the Government's top transport advisor.

Prof David Begg, the head of the Commission For Integrated Transport, proposed the controversial move to "restrain" motorists.

In a report to Ministers, he said that existing policies to boost public transport had not gone far enough.

But increasing parking costs by £2 in busy towns such as Swindon would lead to a significant shift away from cars, he said.

According to his calculations, upping the price of parking would lead to a 25 per cent rise in the number of people catching the bus on a typical route in rush hour.

Prof Begg said: "Making it more difficult and more expensive to park the car is the most likely measure to encourage infrequent or non-users of busses to use them more."

He admitted that positive steps to make bus services better would also have an effect but argued making life harder for drivers was the best way forward.

Prof Begg charged by the Government to come up with solutions to the nation's transport problems said improving bus services outside London to the same standard as the capital would cost £450m.

He insisted that any moves to revamp bus networks would need to see local authorities given power to control routes and service levels.

At present councils have limited powers. The recommendations are currently being considered by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling.

He is drawing up plans to cope with a predicted fall in the cost of motoring something that could actually result in more people taking to the roads in private cars.

Alison Birkett, of the AA, said: "A similar thing happened in Bristol. But after the council increased parking fees, First Bus then increased their fares.

"A lot of the people rely on their cars to get around to Swindon or to travel for work.

"Cars provide security and public transport is often slow or unclean."

Jemima Milton, the lead member for transport on Swindon Council ,said the proposals were only floated by Prof Begg and were not guaranteed to materialise in Swindon.

She said: "The £2 charge is just a Central Government recommendation which may or may not be adopted."

Tony Foss,the head of parking services, said it would be wrong to raise parking prices by £2 in the current climate.

He said: "What we have seen in Swindon is the development of alternatives to using a car in the town. We have park and ride schemes, bicycle paths and people walk to work. But for some people, the car is the only option and we must not price the car out.

"Our current long-term parking charges offer the right balance but to increase those charges like Prof David Begg says would be wrong."

What it would mean

If Prof David Begg had his way in Swindon, a day's parking in a Swindon long-stay car park would rise to about £8.30 from £6.30. Park and ride costs would double from £2 to £4.