ELDERLY residents in Ringwood have said they are "disgusted" at plans to increase the cost of their car parking permits by nearly 500 per cent.

Residents at privately-owned White Lion Courtyard, nearly all of whom are pensioners, received notification that the cost of renting a space would be £600 a year - a huge rise from the previous annual £125 payment.

The move has been branded "obscene, unrealistic and unfair" by those that live there.

One of the residents, Shirley Tobias said: "We were disgusted and horrified to learn that the new freeholder of our flats, who lives in the British Virgin Islands has had the audacity to raise the rent of our car parking spaces from £125 per annum to £600 per annum, payable monthly quarterly, half yearly or annually giving a minimal discount for paying in advance.

"Our parking contracts run from July 1 to June 30 and for those who do not intend renewing, a bollard will be placed in the empty spaces to ensure they cannot be used. None of these parking places are under cover."

The letter was issued by Regent Management Property Ltd - a company based in London."

Ms Tobias added: "Originally they wanted £800 per annum which we considered obscene. But after several emails and letters, the price was to dropped to £600 per annum which we still consider obscene, unrealistic and unfair.

"I don’t believe the freeholder is concerned with the convenience or otherwise of the residents, who are mainly elderly, living on pensions, and in many cases holding blue disabled badges.

"As there is very limited space for parking elsewhere in the grounds it is going to be very difficult for carers, doctors, ambulances and tradesmen etc to park and for whom parking is essential. Have they given any thought to that?"

Neither the management company nor the freeholder had responded to a request for comment on the matter, at the time of going to press.