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Original poster

Country park parking charges

70 replies

RudeDudeToo · 03/05/2021 07:10

I live in Hampshire and took DS 17mo to the local country park yesterday for a run around and a change of scene. The parking charges are ridiculous (imo). It is £2.50 for less than an hour and a fiver for two hours. All day is £9 which isn't too bad but for a quick visit I think a fiver is quite high. I know that it helps pay for the upkeep, staff etc but I'm genuinely quite surprised it was that much. Am I alone in my miserable thinking? It genuinely used to be around £1.50 for a couple of hours and £3 for all day. Granted that was a while ago Blush but not that long ago... Or at least as far as I remember.

OP posts:
Neonprint · 03/05/2021 08:05

I think you're being tight to be honest. I think either a fiver for a shorter visit or £9 for the day is a fairly cheap day or afternoon out.

PinkPlantCase · 03/05/2021 08:05

I think it’s unfair to limit access to the countryside to those who can afford to pay for it.

It’s a lot of money and soon adds up. Most places with a big playground tend to have a small cafe aswell, I’d much rather them hike the prices of a coffee to pay for upkeep than limit access full stop.

Original poster
RudeDudeToo · 03/05/2021 08:09

@neonprint yes clearly I am 😣

OP posts:
MildredPuppy · 03/05/2021 08:18

I dont know how i feel about this as obviously maintaining paths, play areas and toilets and the countryside bit all costs money and i know they often use the money from one site to fund several other free sites too. But i do find they charge a lot for a short visit. Sometimes you only want a 30 minute run about

LemonRoses · 03/05/2021 08:18

@PinkPlantCase

I think it’s unfair to limit access to the countryside to those who can afford to pay for it.

It’s a lot of money and soon adds up. Most places with a big playground tend to have a small cafe aswell, I’d much rather them hike the prices of a coffee to pay for upkeep than limit access full stop.

It doesn’t limit access to the countryside though, does it? QECP is surrounded by the loveliest countryside and villages offering much better access but without the plasticised version. This time of year the fields are full of lambs, there’s lovely little shops and cafes, there are easy walks with much to see and plenty of fallen trees to climb on as well as village recreation grounds.

Suggest next time maybe get an OS map (or download local map). Base yourself in places like Charlton, Compton, the Meons or Cheriton if you want countryside or Norebarn woods at Emsworth beach, Emsworth quay or Stokes Bay in Gosport for a seafront, play and cafe walk.

BarbaraofSeville · 03/05/2021 08:21

As well as it being expensive if you only want a short visit, it's also expensive if you go on your own or don't use the facilities.

£9 is good value for a family day out, but not great if an individual just wants a safe place to park and walk from.

Ifailed · 03/05/2021 08:27

I think it’s unfair to limit access to the countryside to those who can afford to pay for it

Go to your local library (or look it up on line) and look at your local Definitive map. It will show you every footpath, bridleway and other rights of way that you and everyone else can use for free.

AuntieMarys · 03/05/2021 08:27

sandgrown it is!!!!

cakefanatic · 03/05/2021 08:27

Agree with @LemonRoses. I don’t always find a CP to be a great experience compared to just picking a spot on the OS map and having a wander. I do use them, especially during the week and if on my own with the kids. Our nearest (not RVCP, because that place just has a weird vibe), was a godsend during lockdown. The play trail, the cafe, the woods, toilet facilities all have their place. But they’re often busy, and overrun with people who can’t quite manage to go slightly off the beaten track.

So, @Logoplanter, I do think YAB a little U. The price reflects the popularity of the sanitised countryside experience, and I think it’s worth finding your own special places.

snowy0wl · 03/05/2021 08:34

If it is somewhere you would like to visit regularly it may be worth looking at getting an annual parking pass. We purchased one for a local park near us and only have to visit 10 times over the course of a year to get our money’s worth.

DazzlePaintedBattlePants · 03/05/2021 08:35

I hate this, and would far rather have properly resourced council tax so that parks can be free at point of use. Possible exceptions for very touristy areas such as beaches etc.

Local councils can even issue parking discs to residents to display in the windscreen so that residents (ie the local taxpayers, or residents who are ineligible to pay tax) can get the benefit.

Moonlaserbearwolf · 03/05/2021 08:38

I agree OP.
QECP is expensive for a quick visit (I too used to go a lot when it was £3 a day). The facilities have improved recently - upgraded visitor centre, play areas, dog agility, assault course etc. so I can see why they are charging more. So much choice around here though - much of it without parking charges - we are lucky!

KitchenWarrior · 03/05/2021 08:38

Our local forestry commission place is £1.50 per hour or £6 all day (hard to spend all day there tbh) - except on bank holidays when its a flat fee of £10 Shock which definitely feels like profiteering

poppycat10 · 03/05/2021 08:43

I think it’s unfair to limit access to the countryside to those who can afford to pay for it

it's not limiting access, it's charging for parking. People have a very strange attitude towards car parking charges. They pay £300 a month to lease an SUV and then say they can't afford £1 to park in our local town centre while they do a quick shop.

It's also peculiar when people drive miles to a cheaper petrol station. But you've drive 30 miles to get there!

[shakes head]

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 03/05/2021 08:44

I went to Chatsworth yesterday. Flat rate of a fiver whether for one hour or eight. I’m not sure it is for upkeep. There’s plenty for upkeep. Like:

The house and garden cost a fortune.
3 huge cafes/ restaurants
Garden centre and shops
Play area and farm which you have to pay to get into
Loads of snack shacks
And they still have to charge for parking....

poppycat10 · 03/05/2021 08:45

I agree increasing the price on bank holidays is profiteering though!

I would actually quite like our local council to increase council tax so that parking in the town centre could be free. Because it would also mean you didn't need all the restrictions on the roads around the town centre designed to force people into the car parks and the traffic wardens could concentrate on dealing with bad parking, rather than people overstaying their time in car parks.

If you live in a tourist area you could offer a cheap season ticket to local residents and fleece the tourists

minniemomo · 03/05/2021 08:47

Buy a motorbike, parking is usually freeGrin

(My kids are adults so rarely come)

Even central London, it's great

lljkk · 03/05/2021 08:49

I had a job which involved visiting CPs all over country, if QECP is one I think it is, it was especially nice.

I park a mile away somewhere free & walk up, tbh. Whenever possible. I am flipping masterful at finding free parking alternatives.

Carycy · 03/05/2021 08:51

Isn’t that what council tax is for?

snowy0wl · 03/05/2021 08:53

@minniemomo - love the idea! Unfortunately my little one is too young to be a pillion on my motorbike atm. I believe the minimum age is 8? ;-)

Bach3lorBoi · 03/05/2021 08:56

If people were going to these places for a nice walk, I think they'd be much cheaper.

People actually go there to leave bags of dog poo and piles of litter, so I totally get why they'd charge. Someone has to clean that up.

If I were you, I'd get angry at the lazy buggers who can't tidy up after themselves, not at the parking charges.

The world would be a nicer and cheaper place if we didn't have to keep paying extras to cover the costs of cleaning up after louts everywhere. I think it with cinema costs too. Instead of a quick sweep round, they have to pay someone to thoroughly clean up after the people who kicked drinks over, threw popcorn, left all their wrappers on the floors and seats... so it's little wonder cinema tickets are also getting more expensive.

EvilPea · 03/05/2021 09:03

Where I live is similar and now they’ve clamped down on the parking around them so you have to pay that expensive rate if you want to visit (not on a bus route either).

It really is becoming a two tier world

DappledThings · 03/05/2021 09:04

My local one is £1.50 all day so it's definitely expensive in comparison to that. We go so often I've paid for the £51 annual ticket that lets us park in any of the 9 in the county although we've still yet to get to any of the other 8.

DinosApple · 03/05/2021 09:08

The two council run country parks nearest me are £2 all day, and actually I think that's how it should be. Access to council run outdoor space should be subsidised for everyone's benefit.

sandgrown · 03/05/2021 09:12

@AuntieMarys I love it there and it’s worth £10 for a family day out

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