MACHINES are being installed within days to impose controversial new car parking charges at two East Lancashire beauty spots.

Senior Tories and UKIP councillor Malcolm Pritchard have criticised the £1 fee as a Labour tax on picnickers and dog walkers - and one Tory branded it a ‘picnic tax.

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Lancashire County Council environment boss Marcus Johnstone has defended the new pay and display scheme at Wycoller Country Park, near Colne, and Springwood Picnic Site, near Whalley.

It will also be introduced at a third location, Conder Green, in Lancaster.

All sites will have a £50 yearly season ticket option for regular visitors.

Padiham and Burnley West councillor Mr Johnstone, who approved the new fees in July, said the annual £18,300 recouped for county coffers would save a job. He said he had no choice but to finish off a process started by the previous Tory administration, which imposed the charge on two other country parks, Beacon Fell in Wyre and Crook O’Lune in Lancaster.

Hyndburn Tory candidate Kevin Horkin said: “This week Labour are introducing the picnic tax. Pay a £1, park your car and eat your sandwich, on beauty spots throughout Lancashire.”

Pendle East Tory councillor Paul White said: “This is just the latest attack by the Labour county council on rural areas. Why should they impose parking charges on our borough which does not have them “Cllr Johnstone cannot blame the previous Tory administration. He did not need to go ahead and should have found the money somewhere else.”

Ribble Valley Tory councillor Ken Hind said:’’This will deter people from coming to enjoy our countryside. Coun Johnstone could have taken the money from the £1.1 billion of reserves the county have salted away for a rainy day rather than charge for enjoying a sunny one.”

Mr Pritchard, councillor for Milnshaw ward in Hyndburn and a regular user of Springwood, said: “This is unfair on dog walkers, picnickers and those who enjoy the countryside.

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