Unhappy residents have signed an online petition urging Brent Council to reconsider the new changes to increase the price of visitor parking permits in the borough.

The change.org petition, 'Stop the tripling of Brent parking charges', was created by Brent Lib Dem member, Sarah Dickson and has already seen over 1,200 signatures.

The new changes implemented by Brent Council mean that visitor parking permits will be priced at £4.50 per day, compared to £1.50 at the moment.

According to Brent Council, the changes are to bring Brent in line with other London boroughs in terms of visitor parking permits pricing.

Ealing currently charges £4.50 a day, while Hammermsith and Fulham is £14.40 for eight hours, Westminster is £17.60 for four hours and Kensington and Chelsea is £18.40 for four hours.

The council say that the new approach to charging will help Brent residents park near their homes without losing out to visitors and support people with disabilities.

They also claim the new pricing will improve road safety and reduce carbon emissions in the area.

'Issue with commuter parking that we need to get to grips with'

Cllr Eleanor Southwood, Brent's cabinet member for the environment said:"Although our residents' parking arrangements work pretty well, there is still an issue with commuter parking that we need to get to grips with.

“Too many residents and their visitors are still crowded out by commuters.

“These proposals take a sensible, balanced approach and seek to remove the incentive for people to drive in from elsewhere and park on our roads, particularly if they continue their journey to work by tube or train.

“A key factor has been that charges in Brent have been lower than in many neighbouring areas.

“Obviously, whilst addressing this real problem for our residents, we want to do what we can to recognise the pressures on people who have regular visitors providing them with support and informal care at home."

Comments on the change.org petition however, show that the price change isn't welcome for some Brent locals.

One commenter said: “My mum uses visitor parking regularly to help me with my childcare so that I can be a working lone parent. This will make finances even more difficult.”

Another said: “The implementation of the parking zones was sold to us as a way of reducing congestion not as a back door to a new tax.”