A flat £1 parking charge is set to be introduced at Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea to support ongoing preservation of the park.

The proposals were approved at a meeting of the Regeneration and Environment Committee on Thursday.

The £1 charge – expected to be implemented in spring 2018 – will be effective during the park’s opening hours every day. There is currently free parking at the park.

Councillor Alan Ball, chairman of the committee, said: “The council and its services, like many other local authorities, faces increasing financial strain amid the reduction in Central Government funding grants.

“We are proposing that the proceeds from the car parking charges will directly contribute to support the protection and preservation of the country park and its services, with any additional income contributing to reducing subsidies.”

The committee also agreed to introduce new Saturday parking charges at its car parks in Wickford and Billericay. There will be a £1 flat charge for parking all day.

Visits that last up to one hour will be charged at 50p. .

Car parks affected by the new Saturday charge include High Street, Radford Crescent and Lake Meadows, all in Billericay. Also in High Street, Ladygate Shopping Centre and Wickford Swimming Pool, in Wickford.