PLANS have been submitted to introduce pay-and-display charges for non-National Trust members at Witley Common car park.

The proposed charges are £1.50 for one hour, £3 for up to three hours, £4 for four hours, and £6 for up to eight hours.

A notice will explain how 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 at 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 for parking.

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.”