Beauty spot parking charges could be introduced

2 days ago

Phil Wilkinson JonesLocal Democracy Reporting Service

News image — Worcester Woods Country Park is just one of the areas that could be affected across the county

Google Maps A large car park that is full of cars. There is a small strip of grassland in between two sections of the car park with trees in the distance. — Worcester Woods Country Park is just one of the areas that could be affected across the county

Parking charges could be introduced at beauty spots across Worcestershire.

The proposal follows a budget scrutiny meeting held on Tuesday in which Worcestershire County Council said the charges could bring in £90,000 across the 2026/27 financial year.

Sites include Worcester Woods Country Park, Hartlebury Common, Blackstone Picnic Place, Pershore Bridges Picnic Place and Eckington Wharf Picnic Place.

The council has not indicated what level of charges could be brought in and has been approached by the BBC for further comment.

Speaking at the meeting, Conservative councillor Karen May warned if the measure was brought in it would "displace parking from car parks, where you have to pay, onto nearby lanes".

Labour's Richard Udall suggested the charges would "damage people's access to the countryside".

He said there were other ways of increasing revenue at Worcester Woods, including marquee hire, hosting weddings and events, and car boot sales.

Reform UK cabinet member Justin Bowen, responding to questions in the absence of leader Jo Monk and several other cabinet members, said: "We're all ears."

'Inundated' with emails

Worcestershire's previous Conservative administration signed off on plans to introduce car parking charges at Worcester Woods in 2018 but withdrew the proposal from its 2019 budget following a public outcry.

Thousands of people signed a petition for the car park to remain free of charge and the council's overview and scrutiny performance board voiced its opposition.

Councillor Tom Wells, the board's current chairman, said the ward councillors for each of the affected car parks were likely to be "inundated" with emails from residents.

Councillor Adrian Hardman added the charges would be hard to implement at Eckington Bridge and that parish councillors were likely to fight such changes.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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