MOTORISTS are angry that they must now fork out for a minimum of two hours' parking at Brentwood's William Hunter Way car park – regardless of how long they wish to stay.
Those who live in the town are also annoyed that their residents' discount no longer counts when they park at the facility next to Sainsbury's.
Brentwood Borough Council introduced the new charges on February 11. Two days later, the authority also launched a 'Phone and Pay' system, letting drivers pay for parking by phone rather than using ticket machines.
It now costs £1.30 to park for two hours at William Hunter Way. This is 40p less than the former charge for two hours, but 70p more than the 60p residents used to pay for a one-hour stay. It used to cost non-residents 90p for a one-hour stay.
The council has brought in a new 40p rate to park for half an hour in some car parks, but this is not available in William Hunter Way.
The new William Hunter Way charges apply from 6am until 9pm, Monday to Sunday, excluding bank holidays.
Jan Brooker, 68, from Hutton, said: "A minimum two-hour stay is too long as I only ever want half an hour at the most and I think it's outrageous that the residents' discount no longer counts."
Susan Tossun, 46, a beauty therapist from Blackmore, said: "It's ridiculous; I'm only going to be ten minutes.
"This just makes it expensive for people who want to park safely and do the right thing."
Thabo Sithole, 40, of Rollason Way, Brentwood, said: "I only found out a week ago and I don't think it's fair that we have to pay for two hours."
Kelly Saunders, 34, from Warley, added: "It's not good for residents, and having to pay for two hours is unfair when it's more than you need."
There was also much talk on Twitter about the new tariffs.
Councillor William Lloyd, the leader of the borough council's independent grouping Brentwood First, said his party had proposed a reduction in parking charges in last week's budget.
He added: "Whilst the local Conservatives penalise shoppers to the detriment of our traders by pushing up the minimum car parking cost by this eye-watering amount, the Liberal Democrats proposed a night time town tax whereby evening visitors to our town would also be charged.
"We will continue to fight such outrageous moves by the national political party politicians in Brentwood that seem to put political ideology and an inability to balance a budget way before Brentwood residents' and business's best interests."
A council spokesman said: "Brentwood Council is pleased by the success of its new parking charges, that has seen the introduction of a new bargain rate of 40p for half an hour at several car parks, including the multi-storey car park in Coptfold Road; the reduction in the price of parking for both two hours as well as for parking at evening and weekends, as well as the freeze on other prices.
"We have also introduced a new 'phone and park' system that enable customers to pay by phone, text or app and also extend their parking period in the same way. We have had very few negative comments about the new, often reduced tariffs and we have also been pleased to direct customers, who only want a short stay, to park where the 40p rate is available."
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