PLANS have been submitted to introduce pay and display for non-National Trust members at Witley Common car park. The proposed charges are £1.50 for an hour, £3 for up to three hours, £4 for four hours and £6 for up to eight hours.

Alongside the machine, will be a notice explaining the income will be used to “look after our nature and local countryside, carry out conservation work and improve wildlife habitats”.

The trust estimates the cost of managing countryside in its care, costs around £500 per hectare, per year.

It says as a charitable organisation, it needs to raise money to support conservation work at all of its properties. A spokesman said the introduction of a pay and display machine would ensure “consistency for our visitors.” Many other regions in the National Trust already charge and charging is already in place at some of our sites in the region.

The spokesman added: “It will raise vital funds to support our work. The upkeep of car parks, footpaths and the wider conservation work we undertake to support nature all costs money.”