Motorists in one borough face higher parking charges from next week and will have to pay on Sundays for the first time.

There will be higher charges across many of the 34 car parks in Tonbridge and Malling from Monday, August 19.

In addition, most car parks will see charging periods extended to 8pm every day and introduced for the first time on Sundays and bank holidays (excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day).

The new charges were agreed by the borough’s Conservative cabinet in April, prompting several protests from residents and from businesses fearing a loss of trade, and even from a doctors’ surgery, with Dr Robert Gilmore of Thornhills Medical Practice saying he feared patients would be put off seeking healthcare.

As a concession, the borough has agreed to introduce free parking for up to 30 minutes at six locations in Tonbridge.

They are the short-stay car parks at Bradford Street, Castle Grounds, Kinnings Row, Lamberts Yard, River Lawn and Upper Castle Field.

Nine extra pay and display spaces have also been created outside Tonbridge Castle.

The new charges at Martin Square, Larkfield, which had given rise to the concerns from Thornhills, and at on-street bays in West Malling are on hold pending the installation of ticket machines which will offer an hour’s free parking at both locations.

Charges at Aylesford’s two car parks will also not come into effect until an extension of the Bailey Bridge East car park is completed.

Once introduced, drivers there will have one hour’s free parking and will also be able to purchase a season ticket for £120 a year.

Cllr Martin Coffin, the council’s cabinet member responsible for parking, said: “We have listened to feedback and taken a pragmatic approach that protects the future of our car parks and ensures the income reflects the rising costs of delivering them.

“We want to do all we can to support our towns and villages so I’m pleased we’ve been able to offer short periods of free parking in Tonbridge and elsewhere. This will add to the convenience of making quick trips to local shops and I hope will be welcomed by residents and retailers alike.”

The council said it was spending £615,000 a year running the car parks and needed to recoup the cash.

However, in the last financial year, the council made a surplus of £1.1 million on its parking budget, with income greatly exceeding expenditure.