Enfield Council has come under fire over plans to hike charges for on-street parking by up to a third.

The proposals, contained in the capital programme for the borough’s highways, are to slap an extra 10p on the cost of parking for 15 minutes, meaning it will rise to 50p in Enfield Town and and 40p in outer Enfield.

The cost of parking for 30 minutes will go up to £1 in Enfield Town and 80p in outer Enfield – increases of 20p on the current levels.

It will also cost more to park for one and two hours in both areas once the changes come into effect on July 9.

The council hopes the measures will encourage a higher turnover of parking spaces so they can be used by other people.

But Conservative opposition leader Cllr Joanne Laban accused the local authority of “punishing” high streets and town centres.

She said: “The new Labour administration has only been in power five minutes and it is hiking the cost of parking.

“Enfield Council needs to get its priorities right and stop wasting money on hiring a political assistant and start supporting our high streets and town centres by reversing this decision.

“Parking is a major factor when people choose their shopping destination and hiking the prices will make it less attractive for families to shop in Enfield.

“Enfield Town in particular is already struggling with empty shops, and this decision will be a kick in the teeth to our hard-working local retailers.”

According to the council’s report, surveys showed many of the borough’s parking bays have high rates of occupancy throughout the day.

This can lead to congestion and poorer air quality caused by vehicles waiting for spaces to become available, and it can have an impact on businesses wanting to encourage a higher customer turnover.

Tariffs for off-street parking will also increase by up to 60 per cent in Enfield Town.

The cost to the council of changing tariff boards and adding extra signs will run to more than £42,000.

An Enfield Council spokesperson said: “The council last increased on- and off-street parking charges seven years ago.

“This year, parking charges will rise by 20p to 30p per hour in off-street car parks and 50p per hour for on-street parking spaces – a small rise that we consider to be appropriate and proportional.

“The tariffs have been developed to ensure a sufficient turnover of spaces so that some free spaces are available at most times.

“We want to encourage more use of off-street parking and for those residents that can, to choose other forms of transport such as walking, cycling or public transport to access our town centres.”