An online petition launched calling for Brent Council to abandon its plans to hike up parking charges for visitors by 200 per cent has swelled in just a week.

Launched by Sarah Dickson, Liberal Democrat candidate for the by-election in Kensal Green, “Stop tripling of Brent Parking Charges” aims to attract 1,00 signatures.

Ms Dickson said: “I started this petition because it angered me that the council are raising revenue at the expense of residents at a time when budgets are already tight.

“In only two days the amount of signatures on our online petition doubled as the community has spread the word and we have been door knocking to tell people about this crazy and unjustifiable rise.

This isn’t a luxury. People have childminders, carers, builders or friends and family that drive to see them regularly and this rise will be a huge extra cost for households on a daily basis.”

Ms Dickson said she will take the petition to the council to “show the public dissatisfaction with their plans.”

Earlier this month, Brent Council gave the green light to hiking up visitor daily parking charges which will come into effect in April next year.

Fees will increase from £1.50 to £4.50 in Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) which cover more than half the borough.

In addition, the annual visitor permit will rise by 50 per cent from £110 to £165.

Claiming the charges are being increased to stamp put commuter parking, Cllr Eleanor Southwood, Brent’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “Too many residents and their visitors are still crowded out by commuters.

“That’s why we’re taking this balanced approach to pricing, whilst still cracking down on commuters using our residential streets as a giant car park.”

Alison Hopkins, former Liberal Democrat councillor for Dollis Hill, said: “It’s outrageous. What they are doing is penalising people with family visitors, carer visitors, tradesmen visitors. People who live down in Kensal, Harlesden or Stonebridge are not necessarily well off and £1.50 to £4.50 is simply outrageous. Where does it stop? To me it’s just another stealth tax.”

To sign the petition click here