VISITORS to beauty spots will have to pay up to £5 to park their cars for the first time - despite overwhelming opposition to the move.

Surrey County Council is working to introduce the new charges by July at its five busiest countryside sites - including Chobham Common, near Chobham and Sunningdale. It comes after it agreed to quash free parking at the sites in a bid to generate more funds as it battles austerity.

Chobham Common has six car parks – Jubilee Mount, Roundabout, Staple Hill, Monument, Fishpool, and Longcross – and all of them will begin charging the following: £1.30 for one hour; £2.60 for two; £3.90 for three; And £5 for more than three hours.

The charges were approved by cabinet recently despite a consultation launched in September last year which found 75 per cent of people did not want to pay for parking.

A system which allows people to pay by card and phone will be introduced by the summer, with the option of a £60 annual permit.

Mike Goodman, cabinet member for Environment, said although there had been opposition, survey respondents had recognised the importance of paying if money was to be reinvested into preserving the countryside. Currently Surrey Wildlife Trust manages the estate but there is a gap in funding.