Derry City and Strabane council say a recent hike in city centre car parking prices was needed for "critical frontline services".
Prices at all council owned 'pay and display' carparks increased across the city and district by 20p per hour earlier this week, prompting outcry from some city-centre workers in Derry.
One city-centre worker told Belfast Live his parking costs had almost doubled "overnight" when the new rules came into effect.
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Conor Sharkey, who works for the North West Migrants Forum, said: "I park in the same car park every day and, up until Friday, it was costing me £2.78 per day. I use the Just Park app. On Tuesday I happened to notice that I'd been charged £5.08. It went up overnight.
"A fiver a day is £25 a week, which is about a hundred a month or £1,200 a year. It does factor into your thinking."
He continued: "I park down at Foyle Road, just beside the Craigavon Bridge. That carpark has gone up now to city centre prices."
He added: "The danger is going to be that people will stop using the carparks, that it will push people out into the housing estates which are already congested. People are already looking at Bishop Street, the Bogside, and other housing estates. That could be the headache."
A spokesperson for the council said "car parking prices at all council owned pay and Display Car Parks across the Council area increased by 20 pence per hour from 01 May 2023."
The spokesperson continued: "This increase was agreed as part of the recent rates process in February when elected members, in response to unprecedented financial challenges and pressures, agreed a series of service cutbacks and income generation measures.
"Signage was erected across council car parks advising the public of the cost increase and the pay and display machines and app have been updated accordingly."
The spokesperson added: "The series of savings and income generation measures identified and implemented across a number of Council services, will enable the Council to continue to deliver its critical front line services with a minimum impact on the public."
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