TRANSPORT for London’s decision to hike parking charges by around a third has been slammed as “an absolutely outrageous increase” reports the Local Democracy Reporter.

The decision to increase car parking charges – including at Epping and Loughton – while also been criticised as hitting “struggling “ workers with an above inflation increase.

TfL was directly challenged over the issue at a meeting of a TfL scrutiny panel meeting at Epping Forest District Council.

Councillor Howard Kauffman said: “Residents are all complaining because you’ve just hiked the car parking charges up.”

Epping station has risen from £7.50 per day to £10, Buckhurst Hill from £6 to £7, Debden from £6.50 to £8, Hainault from £5.70 to £7.

Loughton car park all-day charges have gone from £6 to £8.

The Loughton Residents Association councillor representing Loughton St John’s added: “This is an enormous increase for people who are struggling to get to work and use facilities.

“That is a significant above-inflation increase and people are not getting those increases.

“I am not a communist but it is not right that you can willy nilly do that.”

Another user on social media added: “Can you explain why my parking at Epping station has risen from £7.50 per day to £10?

“That’s an absolutely outrageous increase for an open-air car park.”

TfL said its parking charges were last reviewed five years ago. The new tariffs came into effect on October 14, 2024, and posters highlighting the changes were put up at all car parks starting on September 9, when any tariffs changed.

It says its analysis suggests that 66 per cent only park at them one day a week, and more than £1 million has already been invested across TfL’s car parks in the last year, including resurfacing and speed calming measures.

It says during 2024, further investment will be carried out to improve customer safety within car parks, including an improved CCTV system, new customer signage and more energy-efficient lighting.

A Places for London spokesperson said: “We are committed to keeping our car parking tariffs affordable for all those who use them. Having last reviewed our tariffs five years ago, we have now made some changes to bring charges more in line with similar parking facilities in local areas. All revenue generated by through our car park tariffs will continue to be reinvested into the wider transport network, including delivering a range of improvements to our car park estate.”