Wokingham Borough Council is looking at introducing charges at currently free car parks across the area, with locals calling the suggestion 'not sensible'. 

There are 14 council-owned car parks where parking charges are not in force. 

At the council's recent community and corporate overview and scrutiny meeting, a ‘desktop assessment’ was proposed to look at the income the council could expect from introducing new parking charges.

In the meeting's agenda, a council officer wrote: "It is worth noting that we have very little actual data on parking usage at car parks where we don’t currently charge, and we haven’t yet done any parking surveys to establish the actual current parking usage or occupancy at any of these sites.

"In addition, it would be reasonable to assume that the introduction of charges at these sites will have an impact on user behaviour and at least initially reduce parking usage."

The proposal is opposed by Councillor Pauline Jorgensen, leader of the Conservative group on Wokingham Borough Council.

Speaking to The Reading Chronicle, she said: “ I was quite surprised - it referenced a lot of car parks which would cause a lot of problems. 

"One services a school, there's an old people home there. I think all that will happen is that people will move to park in residential streets. 

"I'm not in favour of this. 

"We have had a lot of feedback already. People don't think it's sensible, and we agree with them."

The proposal is set to go before the council's budget meeting in February, 2025. 

Any income from additional off-street parking charges can only be used to fund parking provisions and highways operations.

Cantley Park, off Twyford Road, is home to a number of junior and senior sports clubs, including football, archery, hockey and tennis, as well as Wokingham Theatre.

Wokingham Borough Council is set to offer free parking to all visitors during upcoming popular Christmas events.

Christmas events across the borough include the Woodley Christmas Extravaganza on Sunday, December 1.

With hundreds of people set to flood the town, the council will be opening up it’s far parks on , suspending charges for people who plan to drive into town.

During the Woodley Christmas event on Sunday, December 1, shoppers and visitors will be able to park for free at the parking on Headley Road, Crockhamwell Road and Lytham Road East and West.