Controversial plans to introduce on-street parking charges will go ahead despite tens of thousands of people signing a petition against the proposals.

Councilors voted against a petition of 26,289 signatures which called for the abandonment of the plans at Surrey County Council’s (SCC) AGM at County Hall in Kingston last Tuesday.

All but one Conservative councillor voted in favour of the proposals with one abstaining.

The council will offer half-an-hour free parking in some areas, but will press ahead with the introduction of on-street charges for 3,500 parking spaces across Surrey in the next 12 months to raise up to £2.5m.

Residents in Epsom have strongly opposed the plans with fears that new charges could harm local businesses.

Residents Association Councillor Eber Kington of Ewell Court, who spoke against the proposals at the meeting said: “All around these small shopping parades are station forecourts or supermarkets with free parking.

Who is going to stop at a small shopping parade if they know they have got to open up their purse and pay for it?

The campaign I think will now move from being a county one to very much localized campaigns with residents fighting these proposals tooth and nail.”

SCC Cabinet Member for Transport, Ian Lake said: “We’ve spent a long time listening to residents, business people and local councillors to ensure that, when decisions are made, everyone’s views are taken into account.

We know there is not a one size fits all answer, which is why we will find local solutions to local problems.

The original proposals that were the subject of the petition are now very different.

We’ve made a number of changes after listening to people’s concerns, which is why it would have been inappropriate to support the petition.”