Residents have reacted with anger over “draconian” parking restrictions and charges, claiming pensioners and those on a low income will suffer.

Visitors to Merton houses have to fork out for day permiat costing £2.50 even if they stay for a few minutes.

Elsewhere residents living near Haydons Road station are battling plans to introduce a controlled parking zone (CPZ) for six days a week when an hour’s restriction during week days would stop commuters parking in their roads.

Julian Ollet of Dryden Road said: “I suppose it’s a case of looking after the pennies so the pounds look after themselves. This is a cost that the council should absorb - we shouldn’t be taxed for parking outside our own homes.

“This big brother attitude to everything needs to be controlled. It’s just wrong to be making money out of us in this way.

“It’s also wrong that retired people and those on a low income will be charged so much whenever anyone comes to visit. It’s totally unnecessary.”

Gill Dickinson of Richmond Road added: “I’ve heard that the changes to permits were designed to make life easier but it’s just putting extra financial stress on a lot of people.

“This is about making money and not helping people.”

But Merton Council cabinet member for planning and traffic management, Councillor William Brierly, said: "We make no pretensions that a person who would once have purchased a half day permit will not now pay more.

“However, someone paying for a full day permit will pay less. Regarding our CPZs, we have to put our residents' needs first. Ultimately, when a resident is struggling to park near their house within a CPZ, they are not interested in whether the space is occupied for the whole day or for 10 minutes while someone unloads their car.”

He added six-day CPZs were introduced in some areas where nearby town centres are heavily used on Saturdays.

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