Motorists are facing a rise in car Parking charges while councillors who receive thousands of pounds in allowances will be able to park for free.

The news has angered car owners and residents who say the perk for the councillors - who can claim up to £145,000 in allowances a year between them - is unfair.

But leaders on Worthing Borough Council, who are considering raising council taxes by up to 20 per cent, have defended the parking waiver.

The Argus has learnt that councillors have been able to use car parks for free for the past eight years while everybody else must pay the full fee.

A standard councillor allowance is £3,000 per year and some members receive special responsibility cash on top, boosting the total by an extra £3,000 if they are a member of the Cabinet.

Rates in the town's multi-storey car parks are expected to rise by four per cent in the next financial year, starting in April.

Malcolm Bennett, from Horsham, spends about £5 a week on parking at the High Street multi-storey car park, Worthing.

He said the allowances paid to councillors should cover all their costs and they should not benefit from parking perks.

Catherine Goldsmith, from Worthing, said: "Of course councillors should pay - what makes them so special? I think it's double standards. Taxes are going up so much. Why are we subsidising other people?"

Pensioner Margaret McCarthy, from Goring, thought council car parks were good value but free parking for councillors was "outrageous".

She said: "I've been a civil servant and I think they should pay. Parking charges are going up four per cent, council tax is going up 18 per cent and my pension is not going up a fraction of that."

Jacquie Thompson, 31, from Worthing, uses the High Street car park when she goes shopping.

She said: "Everyone who works in town has to pay. I want to be a councillor - give me the application form. Parking fares should be going down."

But Councillor Sheila Player said members were only allowed to use council car parks without charge while they were on official business.

She said: "Councillors have a fixed allowance and are paid expenses. These expenses would cover car park charges, bus fares and travel costs but only in the course of their official duties. These rules are clear for all members.

"If the system was being abused then I would wish to know about it and would most certainly deal with it. I should point out that I have never received a complaint or comment in this regard."

Coun Player said the parking charge increase was essential to "keep the charges to our council tax payers to a minimum".

"The alternative to an increase in charges is sadly an even higher council tax charge and I would argue that this is certainly less fair bearing in mind not all residents have cars or use the car parks."

Worthing Conservative leader Steven Waight said: "I have never had any resident's comment on councillors' free parking. I doubt if this is widely used by members."