A HUGE price-hike at a well-used tube station car park has outraged commuters.

From Monday next week (September 18) the parking charge at Epping Station will rise nearly 50 per cent from £3.70 to £5.50.

Patricia Jones, 56, from Epping Green, uses the car park every day to commute to her job in London.

She said: “It's just absolutely outrageous. I just don't know how they can justify almost a 50 per cent increase. Young people on low wages won't be able to afford it.

“They've got everyone in that car park over a barrel because there's no where else to go. I have to get here at 6.45am as it is, otherwise you can't get a parking space.

“I live in Epping Green and the bus service doesn't allow me to get to work in time. I've been commuting from Epping for over 30 years. I remember in 1988 the car park was 30p. We've never had an increase of this kind in that entire time.”

Danielle Bedford, 28, of the Birches, North Weald, also uses Epping Station to commute to work.

She said: “I can't afford to park in Epping as it is. £5.50 is absolutely ridiculous. I can't imagine anyone is going to continue parking at that rate. That's £28 a week.”

The price rises are part of a general increase across the tube network in car parks operated by NCP on behalf of London Underground.

Ticket prices at Loughton Station car park will rise from £2.70 to £4.50, while those at Debden and Theydon Bois stations will rise from £2.40 to £3.50.

A spokeswoman for NCP said: “The companies carried out extensive research into the market rates, with the results highlighting that the current tariffs were not in line with other competitors.

“Notices informing customers of the new price changes have been displayed across all sites since Monday, September 13, and season ticket holders have been informed.

“NCP has invested over £1.5 million in the first year of its latest contract with LUL which started in May 2009, and this jointly agreed price increase will allow them to continue to invest heavily in car park infrastructure and security.”