DRIVERS will have to start paying at council-run car parks in West Berkshire from June 1, as the lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Car parks have been free to use since the end of March, to make life easier for key workers during the coronavirus crisis. But from Monday, June 1, West Berkshire Council will begin charging drivers again. 

As the lockdown restrictions ease, more people can go to work and visitors can drive to towns and villages across the district. 

READ MORE: 'Mass exodus’ concerns of 55 homeless in hotels during virus

Drivers can by phone at all council car parks, and pay with contactless at some car parks. More car parks will soon accept contactless paying. 

Signs in car parks will remind drivers to follow social distancing rules. 

Councillor Richard Somner, lead for transport, said: “Like the rest of England, we’re seeing an increase in vehicles and footfall across our towns, since the restrictions were relaxed a few weeks ago. 

READ MORE: Help for West Berkshire businesses to reopen after lockdown

“In turn, this means our car parks — which have been free for the last few months — are starting to get busy again as more and more people are heading back to work, shopping, or venturing out for their exercise. 

“We have received praise from key and essential workers about keeping car parks open and not charging while they carried out their vital roles. 

“Residents have done the right thing by staying home to save lives. But we feel now is the right time to start reintroducing the car park charges across all council-owned car parks in West Berkshire, as we all start to head back into some sort of normality.”