Parking charge plan at Coventry War Memorial Park opposed by hundreds

Coventry City Council wants to impose the charges to help cut its forecast budget shortfall

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition against plans for parking charges at Coventry's War Memorial Park.

Coventry City Council is forecasting a £30m budget shortfall for the next financial year and said the fees would help reduce the spending gap.

But organisers of the petition said the result would be park users choosing to leave cars in residential streets.

They want parking to remain free for the first three hours.

The petition, which is set to run until 7 March, said a lot of people use the park, which it points out is a "lasting memorial to Coventry servicemen".

It said as well as increasing congestion through parking on residential streets, the move could put people off from visiting in future.

Council leader George Duggins and Richard Brown, the cabinet member for finance, said tough choices needed to be made.

Under the proposal, drivers would be charged between £1 to park for up to an hour and £5 for a full day.

Other measures under consideration include a charge for the collection of garden waste and changes to the city's annual Godiva Festival.