TRADERS and residents fear increased parking charges for anyone without a HillingdonFirst card will 'drive a stake through the heart' of Northwood.

From January 31, motorists who live outside the borough could be forced to pay as much as 40 per cent extra to park in the town, if council proposals are approved.

The HillingdonFirst card, which offers discounts to residents, was introduced in February 2009, and two months later parking charges went up.The hourly rate for non-residents to use Green Lane Car Park and park on the street will rise from 50p to 70p, while at Oaklands Gate Car Park, the hourly rate will go from 80p to £1.

Hillingdon residents continue to pay the existing rates, including 20p per hour on-street and in both car parks.

Half an hour's free parking will still be available to everyone, whether or not they live in the borough.

The leader of Hillingdon Council, Councillor Ray Puddifoot, said: "Of course we want to encourage people to visit shops in the area and I'm sure non-residents are also feeling the pinch, but we can only look after the people we represent, who pay council tax and the Olympic levy.

"Our proposals will mean Hillingdon is still one of the cheapest London boroughs to park in."

But disgruntled residents of Eastbury, the part of Northwood in Hertfordshire, have repeatedly complained that the HillingdonFirst card scheme forces them to pay more to use facilities in their own town.

The chairwoman of Eastbury Residents' Association, Elizabeth Willetts, said: "These further increases are penalising Eastbury residents, for whom Northwood is their nearest centre for shops, doctors and banks.

"Eastbury residents are now even more likely to take their custom to Rickmansworth, where the first two hours' parking are free."

Northwood traders echoed the fears.

Adele Francis, manager of La Dolce Vita beauty salon in Green Lane, said: "Some customers already complain about the parking charges so they are not going to be pleased about them going up again.

"It also is detrimental to some of our staff, who have to pay more to park here."

Barry Brennan, owner of Space Haircuts, also in Green Lane, said: "Although we have a well-established client base, it is going to be much harder to attract new business, which we need.

"We pay our rates but it seems that the council isn't taking the needs of business owners into account."

But Rikin Patel, owner of Sharman's Pharmacy, in Clive Parade, Maxwell Road, bucked the trend, saying: "As long as the free 30 minutes in Green Lane remains, I will be unaffected, although I feel sorry for traders whose customers need to spend longer in store."

Nick Hurd, MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, said: "Northwood residents want to see a thriving local shopping area, so the council needs to take care.

"If they insist on pressing ahead, they should also commit to monitoring the impact on trade. If negative they should be open to reviewing charges."

* What do you think? Email Gazette reporter Siba Matti at sibamatti@trinitysouth.co.uk or post a comment at http://northwood.uxbridge gazette.co.uk.