Controversial plans to introduce on-street parking charges across Surrey have been scrapped in a shock u-turn by Surrey County Council (SCC).

The new leader of the council, Councillor David Hodge announced an end to the proposals this morning, just weeks after the resignation of former leader Dr Andrew Povey.

He told a council meeting said: "The county council’s on-street parking policy has proved enormously unpopular.

"I believe we should be strong enough to recognise when we have got something wrong.

"That is why I can announce that the single countywide policy for on-street parking ends today"

Councillor Hodge said that local committees would now have the freedom to decide on policy without ‘interference’ from Surrey County Council.

SCC had planned to introduce 3,500 on-street parking spaces across the county from next month to raise £2.5m a year but faced overwhelming opposition from residents who felt it would kill small shopping parades.

A petition, signed by 26,000 residents, was delivered to county Hall in May calling for its abandonment.

Councillor Hazel Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council, said: "The Leader of the Council has finally accepted the strength of the 26,300 signature petition organised by the Liberal Democrats and has caved in over the introduction of car parking charges across the County.

"I wholeheartedly welcome this U-turn by the Conservative administration at County Hall.

"They have finally seen sense and realised that the policy would hit Surrey businesses hard, would tax the motorist and clog up Surrey’s residential roads with parked cars."