Hundreds of people have signed petitions opposing plans to make them pay to park outside their own homes.

Maidstone council’s Conservative administration has announced that from March, householders will be charged £25 for a resident’s parking permit - currently free.

One incensed Maidstone church-goer distributed petition forms to other worshippers at the County Town’s churches on Sunday, and has already collected 400 signatures opposing the scheme.

Don Bates, of Marion Crescent, Maidstone, said: “I was on my way to the Methodist Church in Union Street, which is where I go, and I just quickly diverted to drop off forms at the United Reformed Church, the Salvation Army, St Faith’s and St Francis.

“I quickly got a lot of responses. Everybody I spoke to about these charges was absolutely livid. I could easily have gathered thousands of signatures if I had more time.”

A second attack has come from opposition Liberal Democrat councillors, who have circulated petition forms on the wards where residents’ parking applies. They said they have had more than 600 people sign the petition against the charge, with a further 80 people signing on line.

Lib Dem leader Cllr Fran Wilson said: “The people are speaking on this issue 'loud and clear’. As well as signing the petition, residents are attaching letters and notes expressing their outrage at this proposal.

“People are shocked when they realise that they will get nothing in return for this charge. Quite understandably, people are saying 'if you’re making me pay – guarantee me a space!’”

Cllr Mervyn Warner (Lib Dem) said: “More and more developments are getting the go-ahead with limited or no on-site parking. This is piling the pressure on to on- street parking and making the situation much worse.”

Maidstone council is also planning to impose full Pay and Display charges on Sundays and to abolish free on-street parking for shoppers in the town centre.

Cllr Mark Wooding (Con), the cabinet member for the environment, has said the parking permit charge would ensure that people only applied for permits if they needed them and would prevent abuse of the system.

But he admitted the increased Pay and Display charges were a bid to boost revenue in the face of a budget deficit. He said: “If the situation was different and the economic picture was rosier, we would not be doing this.”

Mr Bates said: “My protest is non-political. It’s just that if nobody objects, this will just go through on the nod. Someone needs to let the council know what we think.”

Mr Bates will present his petition to the council next Thursday, December 18, at 6.30pm in the Town Hall, when the proposals will be discussed.

• The council has promised a public consultation on their proposals this month, but no details have yet been published.