RESIDENTS wanting a driveway to help ease parking problems in their street, will now be charged double by Welwyn Hatfield Council. For years private homeowners have been offered a subsidised price of �500 for the entire cost of installing a hardstand. Bu

RESIDENTS wanting a driveway to help ease parking problems in their street, will now be charged double by Welwyn Hatfield Council.

For years private homeowners have been offered a subsidised price of �500 for the entire cost of installing a hardstand.

But this has now shot up to �1,000.

Councillor Margaret Birleson said: "I think it's an astronomical increase, it's a 100 per cent without any notice.

"It's going to create more cars on the road.

"We're trying to improve off-street parking and I know lots of residents who would like a hardstand but can't afford it, especially in the current financial climate, this will only make things worse."

But the council said the scheme for areas with parking problems is "good value for money" and privately this could cost around �6,000.

In a report to the council's cabinet, parking services manager Habib Rehman said: "It is considered �1,000 will continue to encourage uptake of these offers, whereby the resident feels they are getting good value for money and at the same time the council receives extra income."

The cabinet agreed approving the increased charged immediately.