The cost of general residents’ parking permits are set to remain the same but Croydon Council is looking at increasing the cost of permits for housing estates and on street parking.

Indicative plans to change parking charges across the borough were discussed by the council’s traffic management advisory committee.

The cost of residents’ parking permits will remain the same at £80 for a first permit and £126 for a second.

Households will no longer be able to buy a new third permit but those who do already have one will be able to renew their permits for £305, the same price as before.

The report states that this was done to reduce demand for road space.

Under the new rules, permits for people living on housing estates will increase from £27 to £39 or from £42 to £78 for a second permit.

The council says the extra money will go towards “improving facilities” for council tenants.

The report states: “There have been no changes in the housing estate permit prices for the last five years although the cost of maintaining and improving housing buildings including surrounding land has increased.”

Also outlined in the report is the scrapping of an annual visitor permit, which did cost £50 and was limited to one per household.

It is proposed instead to use a daily cashless pay by phone system which would cost £2.60 per day.

Short-stay free parking bays in 11 district and local centres across the borough would also be preserved under the plans considered by councillors last week.

In Croydon’s controlled parking zones – excluding where there are free spaces – drivers would pay 10p more for every half hour.

The traffic management and advisory committee could not make a decision on these proposals but provided its comments to the cabinet members for environment, transport and regeneration, a job shared between Cllr Stuart King and Cllr Paul Scott.

Cllr King said: “We are looking at reviewing parking fees in the borough while maintaining valued services including free parking bays in the hearts of our communities to help local businesses.

“The scheme also sets out how we could keep the cost of visitor permits and the cost of business permits low.

“Some parking charges may rise by a small amount in order to support businesses and ensure spaces are available in town centres across the borough.

“We have invested in making it easier to access the town by bike or on foot and have installed a new crossing on Wellesley Road as part of this work.” 

A decision on whether to implement the proposed changes will now be made by Cllr King and Cllr Scott.