Wokingham borough council currently has no plans to introduce car parking charges at Cantley Park, it has been confirmed.
The topic was discussed at a recent full council meeting of Wokingham borough council.
Cllr Nagi Nagella asked: “Earlier this year the Lib Dem administration u-turned on their proposals to introduce car parking charges at Cantley Park, but refused to rule them out in future.
“At what point in the budget setting process will the administration be able to confirm that plans to introduce car parking charges at Cantley are not in next year’s budget?”
Cllr Adrian Betteridge, executive councillor for active travel, transport and highways replied, saying: “ The Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) process relies on the examination in public of options to produce a balanced budget.
“Characterising this process as u-turns is unhelpful, and could be interpreted that you would have liked the executive to make decisions ahead of the examination, which I assume is not what you are seeking.
“The council is currently working through the usual process to develop the 2025/26 MTFP which will set the budget for the next year.
“The draft will, as normal, be scrutinised by the community and corporate overview and scrutiny committee in November, with the final MTFP being considered at full council in February 2026.
“It is not possible at this stage to confirm next year’s budget proposals. However, I will say that the introduction of parking charges at Cantley Park is not currently included in the draft MTFP.
Cllr Nagella said: “At the last council meeting there was a conversation around Bucks and Berks FA taking on Cantley Park, and lately it has been all quiet, so is there an update on that one?”
Cllr Betteridge said: “I am told that the Berks and Bucks FA anticipated arrangement is currently with the council’s legal department.”
