Plans to scrap a free parking initiative and increase charges in Paisley town centre have been voted through – despite concerns about doing so during the cost-of-living crisis.

The five-year strategy, which aims to generate Renfrewshire Council income for road repairs and investment, will be introduced on a phased basis from February next year.

The document sets out charges for on and off-street parking, with an offer of one hour free for both, and a decision to hike fines from £60 to £100 – the fee discounted to £50 if paid within a fortnight.

It will spell the end of Free for Three – a scheme allowing drivers to park in specific car parks for three hours at no charge – in a move that sparked criticism from opposition councillors and Paisley First, the business improvement district.

Councillor Chris Gilmour, Labour group environment spokesperson, blasted the change at Wednesday’s infrastructure, land and environment policy board.

He said: “We are still in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis … The detrimental effect of high inflation, for example, on households and businesses, squeezing household budgets and increasing trader energy costs, driving up the costs of goods and services.

“To that end, I would say this is not the right time to end Free for Three parking in Paisley and impose huge increases in parking charges – for example Bridge Street, Cross Street, Glen Lane, all-day parking, up 233 per cent. Four hour parking in the same area up 316 per cent.

“In zone four the charges will increase, which does not help our hard-pressed NHS staff who can’t get parked in the RAH and have to park on the street.

“Businesses and households within Renfrewshire are struggling under inflationary pressures.

“We should be helping them, not imposing huge additional charges on them.”

In Paisley town centre, the new on-street charging structure will be £4 for two hours, £5 for three hours and £6 for four hours (maximum stay), while off-street will be £3 for two hours, £4 for three hours, £5 for four hours and £8 for over four hours.

According to the council, these fees will be in place from Monday to Saturday.

As part of the strategy there will be three workstreams, with the first focusing on Paisley town centre, the second assessing parking patterns elsewhere in Renfrewshire and the third looking at permit arrangements.

Councillor Michelle Campbell, SNP board convener, said: “Free for Three was a test base for us to see how that would work and see where things go.

“Things have changed. Covid has changed the world in the way in which shoppers present themselves, the way in which people park in our town centres and until we start seeing that true reflection, we’re not going to know what we’re going to have to work with.

“This is a policy that’s Renfrewshire-wide and I do appreciate that there is an aspect here, which is talking in appendix one about the parking in Paisley, but this is not a Paisley policy. This is a Renfrewshire-wide policy.”

She said the policy will address concerns about “selfish parking” which causes access issues for emergency vehicles and bin lorries in part of the local authority, as well as frustration for constituents.

The Labour group asked the board to reject the strategy in its current form and called for officers to “conduct a comprehensive consultation process” with residents and businesses.

However, the policy passed after eight SNP councillors voted in favour, with seven opposition councillors voting against.

Paisley First, which staged a demonstration outside Renfrewshire House before the meeting, expressed its disappointment at the decision in a statement.

Elaine Templeton, the organisation’s chair, said: “We are deeply saddened that Free for Three has been lost without any meaningful consultation with local businesses prior to this decision being taken – increased parking charges are set to be implemented in Paisley town centre from February 2024.

“This is a five-year parking strategy but between two and three years will be spent consulting with town centres and communities outside of Paisley before implementation, so yet again Paisley businesses bear the brunt.

“The convener of the committee promised this morning that nothing was set in stone, therefore the fight to save Free for Three continues.

“Please sign our petition if you haven’t already done so, and if you can, please write to your local councillor and MSP to share your concerns so we can prevent this damage to our town centre.”