Residents have described plans to increase local parking prices as “greedy and compassionless”.

The North Essex Parking Partnership, which took over the running of the districts car parks in 2012, is set to introduce Sunday charges and double the minimum 10p for 30 minutes charge in June.

The increases are set to be implemented in a bid to raise a further £100,000 from parking to cover costs for new pay-and-display meters, signage and CCTV in car parks.

Waltham Abbey and Ongar are set to be the only two towns in the district that will not be affected by the increase as they do not offer access to London Underground trains.

Donna May, 45, of Queens Road in Buckhurst Hill, said: “They shouldn’t be charging people more to update their system.

“We need people to come to the area so we should be offering free parking.”

Patrick Lumley, owner of Lumley's carpet shop in Queens Road, said: “It is just greedy and compassionless.

“The prices are getting ridiculous.

"We are a family-run company on a family business orientated street, these prices will reduce business even more.

“It is pure greed. They are already adding in new parking meters and we are having to fork out to cover the costs.”

Mrs Allan, 70, of Buckhurst Hill, said: “I hate anything going up, everything is so expensive as it is.

“You never get to see the advantage of where the money gets spent.

"It is a shame to see things rising again.”

However, newsagent owner Ken Chung believes the price increases will help with parking.

He said: “I can never park down here because staff at big businesses like the supermarkets take advantage of free parking on a Sunday.

“If I needed to go to the cash and carry, I would never be able to get a space when I got back.

“I think the new prices on a Sunday will help to reduce this issue.”