CONTROVERSIAL parking charges introduced at a Basingstoke park could be scrapped after a new administration took over Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Hundreds of people objected to the borough council’s decision to introduce parking charges at Eastrop last year, with many protesting in a demonstration at the park and more than 1,000 people signing a petition.

READ MORE: Dozens protest at Eastrop Park against parking charges

Despite the objections, the borough council went ahead with a decision to implement charges last year, forcing visitors to pay £8 to stay the day.

Now, the new leaders of the borough council, who took control in May after a motion was passed to remove the Conservative administration, have said they want to scrap parking charges at Eastrop before the school summer holidays.

Cllr Paul Harvey, who was appointed as the council’s new leader, said: “We want to scrap rural car parking charges and the Eastrop Park charges. We want to hand the park back to the people.”

SEE ALSO: Petition launched against Eastrop parking charges

Asked when this is likely to happen and what the next steps are, the council’s cabinet member for strategic planning and infrastructure, Cllr Andy Konieczko, said: “As a new administration, one of our policy ambitions is to ensure parking charges aren’t a barrier to families using the park in time for the school summer holidays. We are exploring how we can make this ambition a reality.”

The borough council said the council will not need to hold a vote on this.