Anyone using the council's village car parks in Claygate, Hersham, Long Ditton, Oatlands Village, Thames Ditton and Oxshott will be charged from this Monday.

Users will have to pay 20p per hour to use the car parks between 10am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

A spokeswoman for the council said: "The new charges are being introduced by the council to overcome local congestion and the inconsiderate use of many of its car parks.

"The monies raised will help to pay for the ongoing maintenance and management of the car parks and other services. The decision to introduce charges followed formal consultation with residents, businesses and other stakeholders early in 2005."

The introduction of charges in the council's village car parks precede charges in town centre car parks in Cobham and Walton early this summer and in Molesey this winter.

These charges will increase to 40p per hour between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday, to bring them in line with charges in Esher and Weybridge, where they been operating for a number of years.

The affected car parks include Ashley Road, Thames Ditton, Hare Lane, Claygate, New Berry Lane, Hersham, Oatland's Village, Weybridge, Southbank, Long Ditton and Steel's Lane, Oxshott.