Croydon Council is proposing to hike up parking prices across the borough including a 45 per cent increase on parking permits in what is being called a “money raising tactic”.

Increases in parking charges across Croydon will be introduced in January next year.

Although the council will maintain 30 minutes of free parking in district centres (one hour in Coulsdon), other on-street costs will rise.

As of next year controlled parking zones (CPZ) will be rolled out to “outer central” parking areas and will be enforced from 8am until midnight, instead of from 9am until 5pm.

A one-hour stay in a central Croydon bay is also rising by 10p to £1.10.

Companion badges, issued by the council as a theft deterrent for disabled badge holders are also rising from £5 to £25.

Councillor Alison Butler, Shadow Cabinet Member for Streets and Environment said: “This is going to hit people in the pocket very hard.

“There is a rise in the Shopmobility service and for charities who have already had significant cuts to their funding.

“This is a kind of tax based on the crazy idea that more people are coming to Croydon town centre but the extended CPZs are being rolled out as far as Thornton Heath and Addiscombe.”

“It is clearly a money raising tactic.”

Higher charges for residents’ annual parking permits will be introduced from the beginning of April.

This will raise the cost of a first permit from £48 to £70 and daily visitor permits are set to rise from £3.40 to £3.70 in the inner zones and from £2.20 to £2.40 in outer zones.

The cost of business permits is also going up but the council said it is providing a “big incentive” to users of alternative fuel vehicles by keeping permits down to £220.

Cabinet member for environment and highways, Councillor Phil Thomas said: “The main change, this time, is the extension of the controlled parking zone operating hours.

“However, these have not changed since the early 1990s and since then there has been a significant increase in traffic levels placing more demand on a finite amount of kerb space.

“Different shopping habits have resulted in more traffic coming into the town centre on Sundays and in the evenings. “