THURROCK Council has announced it is going to start charging residents for street permits to park outside their own homes.

Currently households can get two permits, which were brought in to stop parking congestion and problems for residents who live near rail stations, for free.

However, from Monday, 15 May the council will charge householders £15 each for the first three permits utilised by a household in a parking zone and £13 for a temporary permit.

Previously a household could have two free permits and a third cost £75 and a temporary permit was £11.

The cash-strapped Conservative run council, which recently increased council tax by 9.9 per cent, is desperately trying to find as many ways as it can of reaping extra revenue from residents after its calamitous financial collapse, though it still refuses to say that is the reason for the implementation of charges.

The move came with little forewarning. Some residents have reported they received an email today (Wednesday, 10 April) saying they will have to pay for the permits when they renew their existing one.

A brief statement on the council's website says: "The resident parking permit scheme helps make sure that on-street parking is prioritised for residents and prevents commuters, parents on school runs and other drivers who do not live in the area from clogging up roads and blocking driveways.

"However, providing this service comes at a cost to the council and to cover management, maintenance, enforcement and administration.

"By introducing a flat rate £15 a year fee we are able to cover this costs while helping to keep your road clear of cars for your to park, which provides you with priority parking near your home, all for less than 30p a week."

Labour group leader Cllr John Kent said: "Tory councillors imposing charges for the first two resident parking permits - for the first time since 2013 - is another slap in the face for Thurrock residents.

"Labour councillors opposed this unfair charge through the council's scrutiny process and voted against it when it was put to council in February - where every Tory councillor present voted to increase these charges.

"Unfortunately, there will be much more to come as the Tories will be looking to, again, increase charges across the board this summer and implement tens of millions of pounds of cuts to front line services in a desperate attempt to recover from the financial catastrophe they have inflicted on the residents of Thurrock."

Thurrock's Conservative group has been asked to comment but has not responded.

Stanford-le-Hope West ward has a large number of affected streets and its recently elected independent councillor Neil Speight said: "Sadly this is the thin edge of the wedge. The Conservatives on the council knew all this was coming and clearly put it on hold in a cynical mood until after the elections but made no mention of it in their manifestos.

"Rumour has it Cllr Andrew Jefferies, who was re-elected last week, is set to become the new Conservative leader. I wonder if he mentioned this rise on his election material in this ward, which contains nine streets near Ockendon station that are now affected by this punitive charge of residents?

"There will be a lot more of this to come. Every farthing this morally-corrupt Conservative administration can scrape together to cover up its mess, they will. They have no shame, nor contrition! Just a wish to punish residents for their own mistakes.

"This has been sneaked in the back door - they haven't even had the decency or courage to let people know it's coming."

A full list of all the streets affected can be found here.

Having introduced the increased charges, the council has indicated it wishes to consult with residents after the act.

The email to residents says: "We will also be launching a resident parking permit public engagement survey in the coming weeks.

"This engagement will allow us to collate vital information from you, the resident, about your views of the resident parking permit schemes within Thurrock."