Carers, charity workers and NHS staff are among those who will see their parking permits price increase by up to 200 per cent over the next two years.

Brent Council announced a host of parking changes at a cabinet meeting on Monday, including significant increases to its ‘essential user permits’.

Diesel car owners who use a parking permit – as well as those with multiple permits – face extra charges as the council seeks to improve the borough’s air quality.

Essential user permits allow staff from external organisations carrying out services on behalf of the council to park in any controlled parking zone (CPZ) in the borough.

Reports of abuses of the system and what was considered a comparatively low cost considering their scope saw cabinet schedule in price increases, with some due to double in cost.

Cllr Margaret McLennan, deputy leader of Brent Council, said there was “clear evidence” that permits had been misused.

She was supported by Cllr Tom Miller who said when looking at “that big picture”, the “steep increases” come “with very good reason”.

NHS staff, carers and charity workers – who were previously paying £150 a year – will part with £250 for 2019/20 and £330 a year later.

All other external organisations will see it increase to £300 and then £440.

Diesel car owners with parking permits will be subject to a £50 tax from April 1, which will go up to £75 in 2020 and £100 in 2021.

Second residents’ parking permits will now cost £50 – £10 more than before – while third permits will cost £100 as opposed to £80.

“Air pollution affects everyone in Brent, and we want to encourage residents to switch to less-polluted vehicles,” Cllr McLennan explained.

And those who make use of the event day permit scheme near Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena will be “protected” by a new three-year permit from April 1.

The move comes with a £15 admin charge and residents can also switch from a paper copy to a virtual permit at no extra cost.