PEOPLE will be forced to pay for parking at a popular city park - despite more than 4,000 people signing a petition against the plan.

Charges will be introduced for the first time at Worcester Woods Country Park after council cabinet member Lucy Hodgson signed off on the proposals.

She argued that the scheme, which is due to be introduced next summer, will raise £140,000 a year for the maintenance of local green spaces.

However, there was disappointment from city councillor Richard Udall, who set up the petition against the plans.

He said the charges would mainly affect the city's poor.

He said: "I am shocked and disappointed that a cabinet member has shown supreme indifference to the overwhelming feeling of Worcestershire people and has implemented a scheme against the wishes of the people.

"The arguments are not over. I'm going to pursue the matter and I will lend a hand of openness and friendship to the Conservatives to achieve a compromise.

"I know people that take part in the Parkrun at the site that won't be able to continue going there as it will cost too much.

"Scouts, Cubs and community groups also use the countryside centre."

Cllr Udall proposed restricting free parking at the site to two hours a day - to stop people using the car park for hospital visits.

Richard Ralphs, events director of Worcester Parkrun, which meets at the site every week, also called for a rethink on the plans.

He said: “The charges will mean around £15,900 being paid by parkrunners per year.

"I know the proposed charges would cost me £154 as the season ticket won't cover my four hours of volunteering each week. My wife has already discussed car sharing.

"The charges may affect local people's participation and hence we have made our objections about the structure of the charges clear to Lucy Hodgson. We have had no response.

"We understand the Greenspace team needs to be self-funding very soon. But we hope the first two hours of parking may be free or have a small charge.

"Participation in Parkrun benefits us physically and mentally. It is a free event for local people and 144,205 people have completed or volunteered at Parkrun and we have 13,392 local people registered to take part.

"We hope the council will continue to back the community spirit of Parkrun and support locals who enjoy the park either with their family or their dogs."

Mr Ralphs emphasised that he wanted to thank the council for its prior support for Parkrun.

Parking at the site, from next summer, is expected to be free for 15 minutes and then £1 for one hour, £2 for two, £3 for four, £7 for over four and £60 for an annual pass, although the council said these figures might change.

County councillor Lucy Hodgson said: "The county council has been reviewing income generation opportunities across its entire estate for quite some time.

"With financial pressures growing on the county council, the introduction of a parking charge at Worcester Woods Country Park will generate around £140,000 each year.

"Most sites with a similar range of facilities around the county currently either charge for entry or charge for car parking. The charges for Worcester Woods are similar to other visitor attractions and represent typical visitor lengths of stay.

"Now the decision has been made, we will be working with the Orchard Café tenant in the run up to the charges coming into effect next summer. We've also been speaking to the organisers of Parkrun throughout this process."

To sign the petition against the charges click here.