Motorists are to pay 20p for the first 20 minutes of parking under new plans.

At a meeting on Monday, Richmond’s cabinet agreed the new levy on street parking, dubbed 2020, and confirmed council car parks would be free on May 25, a bank holiday, in an effort to help traders.

The measures come after the council announced plans to charge for parking based on a vehicle’s CO2 emissions.

An online poll showed 92 per cent of respondents were opposed to the plan and there were fears the move could damage business.

Cabinet member for traffic, transport and parking on Richmond Council, David Trigg, said: “Following on from our CO2-related parking proposals at the beginning of the year, the public and traders in particular have told us they are concerned about the effect our parking charges could have on the economy.

“We made a quite a few changes since January and I am confident we have now got the balance right and what we are now proposing will make all parking in the borough easier and in very many cases cheaper.

“Free and cheaper parking at certain times and in certain locations has been designed specifically to support our businesses.”

He added that if popular, the free bank holiday parking could be extended.

The Conservative opposition welcomed the free parking day but criticised the rest of the moves as “arrogant”, saying it ignored the views of residents.

Opposition leader Coun Nick True said: “A free parking day on May 25 is welcome, but it falls pitifully short of what is needed.

“What shops and over 3,500 people have asked for is real financial help now, and for this damaging new tax to be scrapped.

“Yet again the out-of-touch clique running our council has slapped the public in the face.

“Having blown £1.4m of public money on new parking meters, these Lib Dem fanatics will not halt their destructive, all-out war on our high streets.”