A total of 919 respondents in the previous consultation (78.4 per cent) felt access to Lickey Hills should remain free.

For Sheldon Country Park, that figure was 120 respondents (65.9 per cent), while for Sutton Park it was 2,741 respondents (68.2 per cent).

Acknowledging the opposition to the proposed charges, a recent council report said introducing parking charges is often “controversial and unpopular”.

But it maintained that the projected income from the parking charges still falls short of the cost of maintaining the three parks in question.

“Therefore, it is deemed reasonable to ask park users to contribute financially to the upkeep and maintenance of these parks,” it said.

“Despite the introduction of parking charges, there will still be a requirement for financial support from the council’s general fund to maintain and manage these parks.”

The report went on to say there was more support for the revised parking charges, which were lower than the consulted ones.

The three separate consultations for Sutton Park, Lickey Hills Country Park and Sheldon Country Park close on 29 August.