Increased charges for longer-stay parking will come into force across the borough next month, amid Conservative claims the Labour council has “betrayed” voters on the issue.

From February 1, drivers parking for more than an hour in many areas will see increases of up to 50 per cent on some hourly prices, although stays of less than an hour will become cheaper or free in some parts.

The council estimates the changes could raise an extra £1 million in revenue.

But the Conservative opposition have accused Labour of breaking their 2014 manifesto pledge to offer hour-long free parking in the borough’s district centres.

Kathy Bee, Labour’s cabinet member for transport and the environment, said she was “happy to put my hands up and say that on reflection [the pledge] wasn’t the best use of our parking bays”.

She added: “You put something in [the manifesto] but we have had a bit more time to consider the impact.”

But Conservative councillor Yvette Hopley, who recently became Cllr Bee’s opposite number in the shadow cabinet, labelled the new charges as “outrageous” and accused Labour of misleading voters.

She said: “Many residents will have voted for Labour based on their manifesto promise to protect parking in our district centres. I know they won’t have failed to notice that they have been betrayed by this administration.”

Tory councillor Mario Creatura, who represents Coulsdon West, said of Brighton Road changes: “I have had several local businesses contact me about this, worried for their livelihoods. Times are tough for small businesses, so I struggle to see why this Labour council are insisting on doing everything it can to stifle trade in Coulsdon.”

Cllr Bee claimed the changes would make parking in Croydon “a lot more consistent” and “encourage more turnover, which means more spaces are available”.

She rejected allegations from Conservative councillors that cutting free parking in Brighton Road in Coulsdon from an hour to 30 minutes would damage traders, adding: “What you need for businesses is that people come to their business and then move on, and if they’re going to stay then they’re not in those spaces where shorter stays take place.

"All the complaints they make about a lack of parking in Coulsdon support the decision to move from an hour to half an hour.”

Asked why the new charges had not been put to public consultation, Cllr Bee said: “Many people don’t want to pay for parking, but there are costs associated with it. It’s quite difficult to have a consultation which gives people a veto for things you have to pay for.”