THE city's MP is against plans for weekend parking charges at a popular park.

More than 4,600 people have signed a petition against the plans for charges at Worcester Woods Country Park.

Robin Walker, the MP for Worcester, has called for parking at the site to remain free at the weekends and for 30 minutes during weekdays.

However, the county council cabinet member behind the plans, Lucy Hodgson, insists that the fees are necessary in light of cuts to local government funding.

Mr Walker said: “A number of constituents have contacted me to raise concerns about the proposed parking charges at Worcester Woods, and I was able to read a copy of the county council’s decision report to better understand the reasoning behind the proposals.

"While I accept that there is a need for the council to generate income for public services, I do think it important that a balance is struck so as not to deter the public from enjoying Worcester Woods.

“In light of this, I have asked the cabinet member responsible to consider extending the free parking period from 15 minutes to half an hour, and to remove parking charges altogether at weekends.

"Amending the charges in this way would allow the many activities that people enjoy, such as Parkrun, to continue unimpeded, as well as helping to support the Orchard Café.

"I am glad to hear that the council will be looking at the options again and are considering broadening the exemptions.”

City councillor Richard Udall, who set up the petition against the plans, said: “Clearly Robin Walker agrees with me that the current proposals for car parking charges are wrong.

"We are both seeking a compromise, I have asked Lucy Hodgson to be reasonable and to support the referral to scrutiny so all other suggestions can be considered prior to any implementation.

"I believe the Countryside Centre at Worcester Woods could be used to generate much more income from ideas such as car boot sales, farmers markets, even maybe as a wedding venue.

"I would hope with the intervention of the local member of parliament they [Conservative councillors] may be persuaded to pause, think again and look again at the many alternatives to their deeply harmful suggestion of high car parking charges, which would disproportionally hurt the poor the most."

The councillor added that he would prefer two hours of free parking during weekdays but said he was willing to compromise.

Cllr Udall previously made a 'call-in' request to the county council's scrutiny committee, which could lead to an investigation into the proposals if the request is approved.

He said this move had temporarily stopped the council from making preparations to implement the charges, which are due to come into effect next summer.

Cllr Lucy Hodgson previously defended the proposals by arguing that the scheme would raise £140,000 a year for local green spaces.

To sign the petition go on bit.ly/2TwU9mC