MOTORISTS in Swindon face huge increases in parking fines under plans to add a £35 tax on top of existing charges.

It would mean the current fine for illegal parking would rise from £35 to £70.

The controversial mov-es are being considered by the Government, just months before a new parking enforcement regime is due to start in the town.

Swindon currently has just two traffic wardens, but that is set to increase to 36 when the council takes over the running of the scheme from the police in September.

They will be checking for drivers who leave their vehicles on double yellow lines or stay in car parks too long.

Similar systems already up and running in other local authorities have netted councils massive sums of money. In one year, a Midlands authority raised more than £1 million from local motorists in this way.

But the £35 tax would come on top of the current fines. Under the scheme, being considered by the Home Office and Treasury, money would go towards paying for compensation to crime victims.

It could also result in a £35 tax on speeding ticket fines as well as other criminal acts, such as drunken behaviour, littering, dog-fouling and graffiti.

And there are suggestions that a £3 tax should be added to all insurance policies.

Swindon council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawns) hit out at the plans.

He said: "This is just another example of a stealth tax from our Labour Government.

"It is the poor old motorist that gets hit again. The Government is just not putting enough money into the transport infrastructure.

"As I understand it, the money collected will be put into a government fund to pay for victims of crime.

"That has nothing to do with car drivers. It would just turn our parking attendants into government tax inspectors."