Evening parking charges will hit residential streets around Kingston town centre from Monday night.
Kingston Council hopes the extra enforcement will protect residents by stopping roads being clogged up by drivers avoiding parking charges.
But residents fear visitors to their homes will be hit by the charges and Kingston Chamber of Commerce claimed the charges were a "parking tax" to pay for the Rose Theatre.
Knights Park, Surbiton Road, Southsea Road, Acre Road, Canbury Park Road, Cowleaze Road, East Road, Elm Crescent and Elm Grove will all be patrolled until 10.30pm at night.
Councillor Chrissie Hitchcock, chair of Kingston Town neighbourhood committee, said: "This change will be welcomed by residents in the area who often lose their resident parking spots to drivers leaving their car whilst they visit the town centre in the evening.
"I hope this change will also encourage more people to use sustainable transport, such as buses, trains and bicycles when they visit Kingston in the evening.
"But if it is essential to travel to Kingston by car I hope people will be encouraged to use one of our secure car parks for just £1.00."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article