Motorists are going to be hit in the pocket as parking prices rise across Sutton – with some facing hikes of almost £150 a year.

The council has published its new parking prices for its car parks, multi-storeys, bays and controlled parking zones (CPZs), and, in the vast majority of instances, charges have gone up.

Sutton Council said it changed its charges in order to “simplify” tariffs.

According to its own public notice, 49 of the council’s 61 pay and display tariffs at its surface car parks will increase.

Season tickets at nine of Sutton’s car parks will be set at a uniform rate to the benefit of those using Melbourne Road, in Wallington, and High Street, Carshalton, who will save £30.62 a year.

However, those parking at Cheam library, Kingsway Road, Wallington public hall, Wallington Shotfield and Wallington library will have to pay more – in some cases almost double, up £148.75 to £367.50 a year.

Five of the nine tariffs set at the Gibson Road car park by the council offices will increase, although all-day parking will fall by 50p.

Times Square parkers will get a free first half hour, but there will then be across-the-board increases capped at £5 for up to five hours.

All pay-and-display charges in CPZs are going up, as are permits.

A Sutton Council spokesman said: “We have changed our parking charges for the first time since June 2013 to simplify the tariffs. This will encourage more people to use off-street parking to ease congestion. Some off-street parking charges have been reduced.

“Sutton’s parking charges are still among the lowest in London and we are proud of the fair deal we offer residents.”

This view was supported by Ross Feeney, chief executive of Successful Sutton, although he said he would like to see any increases in revenue be ploughed back into the area’s car parks.

Councillor Tim Crowley, leader of the opposition on Sutton Council, said: “It’s just spin. It’s just fantasy, but some people must believe it. How can they run around and say they have not put up charges since 2013? That’s just a little over a year.

“Secondly, they’ve taken away a car park, in Brighton Road, so people have less availability to park in Sutton. They are not helping people at all. It’s a difficult situation for motorists.”

Coun Crowley said he suspects the reason for this hike in parking charges is that new legislation will ban councils from using CCTV vehicles to fine motorists.