Frustrated residents have branded a council's new parking permit scheme "diabolical" just days after it was launched.

Canterbury City Council started the initiative earlier this week, giving those living in the district a discount on various car parks and park and ride services.

But many have said the new system is confusing and difficult to use as residents have to create a new account - on top of two others - to sign up.

The authority has asked users to “please persevere” and has apologised to those who have found it challenging.

Some have reported their postcodes not being registered, despite living in the district, while others say they don't understand why another log-in is needed.

The scheme is valid for 10% off 13 car parks: Castle Row, Longport, Millers Field, Riverside, St Radigunds, Castle Street multi-storey and Station Road West multi-storey in Canterbury, Middle Wall in Whitstable and Neptune and William Street in Herne Bay.

Permit holders also receive a 20% reduction on the cost of park and ride, bringing the price down to just £3.20 for the whole day – including at the newly-reopened Sturry Road route, as well as Wincheap and New Dover Road.

Former city council leader Simon Cook, who lives near Bridge, says he found the system "confusing" when he signed up this week.

"It was frustrating to do, and I’m not a technophobe," he said.

"You have to prove where you live and register your car, but the council should already know my car because of ANPR [automatic number-plate recognition technology].

“I did complete it but it was five extra steps; people have busy lives they don’t have time for that. It seems to have become diabolical.

“I do think the permit is a great idea though and I will be looking forward to using my discount at the park and ride.”

Mr Cook says residents already need separate accounts with different log-ins for registering ANPR payments and green waste.

The former Conservative, who was ousted in 2019, added: “It just feels like different bits of the council are not talking to each other and they haven’t thought about the actual user, the residents.

“For example, with Amazon, you have one account for your books, your TV, your shopping ect. But with the council it’s one log-in for this and that and so on.

“I think the blame lies with officers more than councillors, but they are not going to officers and making sure they have got it right.”

The system went live for applications on Thursday.

On unveiling the scheme on Facebook, cabinet member for parking, Cllr Alex Ricketts (Lib Dem) said: “We wanted to support local people with how much they pay to park as much as we could.

“We are always looking at ways to be innovative with our parking arrangements and will be keen to see how well this permit goes this year."

But Green Party councillor Andrew Harvey also found the system difficult to use.

The West Bay representative said: “I already have an ANPR account, so I assumed it'd be a very simple matter of just clicking it or something.

“Really, it should be done automatically - but it's not.

“The whole system is completely convoluted and difficult to work your way through.”

Cllr Harvey believes people could be put off applying for the permit entirely by the process.

“It's not worth all that fussing around trying to get through it,” he explained.

“Some people were also saying their postcodes weren't recognised, even when they lived locally. It’s just a headache.”

A spokesman for the city council admitted there have been some “gremlins along the way”, but these are thought to have been fixed.

“We want everyone that is entitled to the resident rate to sign up because it is a fantastic offer and we're sorry residents are finding it challenging,” he said.

“We're asking people to please persevere!

“We're doing all we can to help residents whether that is over the phone or via our social media channels - including those customers whose postcodes are not showing.

“There have been some gremlins along the way which we think we've fixed.

"So far hundreds and hundreds of resident rate permits have been processed and people are already saving money.

"And there are also lots of people on social media saying they've found the process to be a smooth one."

He added the reason locals need another account in addition to their ANPR one is so the council can “double check” they are eligible.

He continued: “Paying your council tax to us is a sure way of knowing whether you live in the district and the rate applies to you.

"Postcodes don't always align with council boundaries."

"Since April 1, the resident rate has entitled permit holders to 20% off parking at our park and ride sites bringing the price down to £3.20 for a full day including a driver and up to six passengers and 10% off parking at a wide range of the council's ANPR car parks - those that are in band two and three.”