A GLASGOW street could generate more than £350,000 a year in parking charges after council bosses quadrupled fees.

The price of parking for an hour in Kilmarnock Road, Shawlands, rocketed by 300% last month.

Motorists have been forking out 80p an hour instead of the previous 20p since December 6.

Figures obtained by the Evening Times show the city council stands to earn more money from the stretch of road in the next year than it has in the past five years.

It means Kilmarnock Road could generate more cash than West Campbell Street, in the city centre, which we previously revealed as the biggest cash generator in the city.

Drivers forked out £281,259.55 to park in West Campbell Street between April 2011 and March last year.

Previously, the city earned, on average, around £1800 per week from drivers who parked in Kilmarnock Road.

It is estimated that will rise to over £7000 a week, if the same number of drivers continue to park in the street.

Released under Freedom of Information legislation, the figures reveal drivers paid a total of £374,170.92 to park in Kilmarnock Road between April 2009 and April 2013.

Glasgow City Council was criticised last month when it increased parking charges.

Between April 1 and December 20 last year, the council earned £68,878.35 from the single South Side street.

During the last financial year, city motorists paid out £8.7 million in on-street parking charges.

The latest figures show that on-street parking charges generate an average daily income for Glasgow City Council of £23,826.

A council spokesman today defended the price hike and said, "parking controls are in line" with the Local Transport Strategy.

He said: "We have established an annual review of tariffs in response to inflationary demands, market conditions and effective traffic management controls.

"However, it is also realistic about current car use and supporting businesses.

"It's important for businesses that parking bays are available for short term parking to those who require access to specific locations.

"The tariff is set to allow this, with car parks available for longer stays."

The Local Transport Strategy aims to increase the number of people using public transport.

Our figures show a steady rise in the cash the council has earned from parking fees in Kilmarnock Road.

In 2009/2010, it made £91,120.95.

The following year that rose to £93,056.55.

It increased again in 2011/2012 to £96,121.87.

However, in 2012/13, the amount dipped slightly to £93,871.55.

rebecca.gray@eveningtimes.co.uk