Martin Saward and local resident Carrie Shelton. Photographer: Rick Findler

Plans to introduce parking permits in a Barking street have been met with anger from a business and a number of residents.

Martin Saward says his company, Doorway Maintenance, in Harrow Road, may have to shut when the council introduces permits on August 1.

A business permit will cost from £235 a year and covers two vehicles, but only one can park in the street at any one time. Visitors permits for businesses and residents will cost £10.50 for 10 two-hour stays.

Emission

Martin said: “I have five site-based staff members who need to park and a fair few workers who come and go who have to stop off for a few minutes. I can’t afford to buy five business permits and numerous visitors’ ones.”

Mr Saward said he had not experienced any parking problems in the 20 years his business has been in Harrow Road.

“We are only here during the day when many residents’ cars are not parked in the street, so we don’t bother others,” he explained. “We’ve never had any complaints.”

A number of residents are also against the permits, which will cost a minimum of £40 a year for their first car and £60 for the second (the charges rise with the emission rate of the vehicle.)

Carrie Shelton, who with her partner has two cars, said: “We’ll have to fork £200 a year out just to be able to park outside our home and we aren’t even guaranteed a space. My mum lives in another part of the country and stays for at least 24 hours when she comes. That’s going to cost a lot.”

Miss Shelton said residents received letters last June proposing to charge from £22.50 a year for a car and £4.50 for 10 visits. Some residents replied saying they were OK with this. But then the council doubled the charges without checking with anyone.”

She added: “My partner and I actually posted a survey through everyone’s door the other day and out of 30 people who replied 25 were against the permits.” A council spokesman said: “Harrow Road was consulted about a controlled parking zone (CPZ) in June 2011.

“Analysis of responses, plus other factors, showed a need for a CPZ and therefore it will be implemented from August 1 2012.”