Traders fear they could be driven out of business by huge increases in parking charges.

Rates at some car parks will almost triple as part of Lewes District Council's review of off-street parking in Lewes, Newhaven and Seaford.

The council is set to make an extra £106,000 a year and said it would use the income to pay for better recycling facilities, another parking attendant and improvements to car parks.

Councillors said charges need to be levelled throughout the district as existing differences give some traders an unfair advantage.

But some business leaders have accused the council of being dictatorial and said trade would suffer.

Under the increases, due to come into force in October, parking for one hour at Brook Street, Westgate Street, West Street, East Street, North Street, Phoenix Causeway, Friars Walk, Mountfield Road car parks in Lewes and Lower Place and the multi-storey car parks in Newhaven will go up by 44 per cent from 45p to 65p and from 60p to 80p for two hours.

Some of the biggest increases will be in Seaford where charges have been traditionally lower. At Sutton Road/ East Street, West Street and Saxon Lane, rates will rise from 25p to 65p for one hour and from 30p to 80p for two hours.

A £1 fee for ten hours has been introduced for certain car parks.

Ted Cowdry, president of Seaford Chamber of Commerce, said: "It is a shame Lewes District Council can dictate to us like that. Any impost that makes it more difficult or expensive to park has the effect of driving people out of town centres.

"Some of our traders who are on the edge will be adversely affected. There's been no consultation. It's a dictatorship."

Councillor Judith Ost, from the interim Cabinet which approved the increases, said: "We were reviewing the whole of the discretionary budget and it has been a while since we have reviewed car parking. One of the Government's suggestions was we should review the charges in terms of reviewing our income.

"We don't benefit from any of the money given to the county council for recycling and have a duty to improve our recycling rates.

"Charges in Seaford have been lower and traders in Newhaven have complained. This makes it more fair across the district."