In towns and cities across the country, the cost of parking is soaring, with some local authorities doubling – and in one case trebling – their rates.
Elsewhere, residents are being forced to buy expensive permits for the first time and thousands of free parking spaces are being scrapped and replaced with paid-for spaces.
Motoring organisations said the charges were effectively a tax on the motorist, and said they could be subject to legal challenges because they were designed to raise revenue rather than ease congestion. Small businesses warned that the changes could also hurt the economy.
But local authorities defended the increases and said the extra revenue would be reinvested in road safety.
An investigation by The Sunday Telegraph has established that at least 150 councils have brought in new parking charges this year, or are considering such a move.

Near us (1/2 a mile closer to the university) the council asked locals if they wanted permits to stop students parking. They got a 100% negative response.
People thought the benefit just wasn't worth the cost. I don't blame them.

It is an issue. People have been complaining for years about it. They just felt this cure was worse than the illness.