JUST 20 drivers each weekend are paying to use a new car park, costing the taxpayer more than �11,000 a year to run.

The Cherry Tree car park, as it has been named, opened in November and although used by Welwyn Hatfield Council staff on weekdays, is open to the public at the weekends.

But the space in WGC town centre has only been visited just over 100 times in total, although the figures released do not specify if this is 100 different drivers or the same drivers parking regularly.

A council spokesman told the WHT: “The Cherry Tree car park, located next to Waitrose and accessible from College Way, is open to the public on weekends and provides additional parking and quick access to the town centre.

“We’re paying CP Plus [the council’s private contractor] �11,040 this year for managing Cherry Tree car park, this include all day-to-day costs of looking after the car park including enforcement and the payment system, the only other additional costs we might have are repairs that fall under landlord responsibilities, such as perimeter fencing, walls and resurfacing.

“All income collected belongs to the council.”

The spokesman added: “The Cherry Tree car park is open to the public at weekends, often there are plenty of spaces and we would like to remind shoppers and visitors that it is available.”

The facility uses the new ANPR technology the council recently installed at all its car parks.