To be angry about paying 80p/hr to park in all of our boroughs parks?

[exexe]

Am I justified in being angry about this?

I have 2 young boys and we are always in the park. Last summer holiday we spent long afternoons in parks meeting up with friends, having picnics etc.
Now we have to pay everytime we go there. Its not close enough to walk.

Aren't we supposed to be encouraging our kids to be outdoors, playing sports and running around?
Just today I read an article about how kids to have lost touch with nature and are more into gadgets. Where else is the most conveniet place to get a bit of nature then going to the local parks, kicking up autumn leaves, feeding the ducks, getting excited about squirrels etc?

We pay a high council tax in this area too.
I've emailed them and our local MP but have had no responses.

I think this is wrong but am happy to hear if IABU

YANBU but surely there must be somewhere you can park and walk there instead?

We go to the park by car at least twice a week as the one within walking distance is filled with dog crap, kids lighting fires and drug deals (seriously, in broad daylight). Parking charges would turn what is a free day out into yet another thing to be budgeted for. For all of those suggesting the bus, they must be much cheaper where you live. Buses round here would cost £10 a time to get there and back- I would happily get the bus if I could afford it!

yabu councils need money, maintaing the parks & facilities is not free for them to do. would happily pay 80p per hour rather than have it all free & the park not kept nicely

£1 would quickly add up. Not to mention, the endless looking at the watch making sure you're not back to the car late. It ruins the whole outing.

Also, if I'm only going for 1.5 hours, why should I pay for the extra half hour? Or if my baby starts crying and I need to go home quicker than expected, why should I pay more money than how long I stayed there? It's just wrong. Also when I see neighbours of the park take their dogs up the entrance, make them do a poo on the side and then walk back home, it seems even more unfair!!

80p/hr doesn't sound very expensive to me. Without knowing how far away you are/routes I couldn't say whether you are being unreasonable by claiming that buses are too inconvenient (I'd imagine buses would probably be more expensive than parking at those rates though)

The money most likely goes into the the car parking reserve account and is then ringfence to be used for car park and road related expenditure. This means that other money will be freed up in the Council's budget to maintain the park, provide toilets, etc.

A Council will think long and hard before introducing a charge like this and will have given full consideration to the consequences. It will be a member-led decision and you'll find that the elected members are very likely local residents. The "Council" doesn't exist in a bubble independent of its residents.

Unfortunately, a Council's ability to raise revenue is very limited.

YANBU it's a bummer if you have always prked for free! However, 80p/hour isn't expensive in parking terms. I find that charging does make you less spontaneous though, you ahve to plan your viist, decide how many hours you are going to spend, then stick to it, make suer you don't overstay etc. It's a pain but a lot of councils are doing this to raise money.

YANBU - I think it's a shame. My favourite park for taking DCs to is right next to the Council offices where the the traffic wardens are based. I was there with my friend and our DCs last year and we were 5 mins late getting back to car as one of DCs decided they needed the toilet at the last minute. My friend's car had already been ticketed by the time we got back; I leapt into mine while friend was "discussing" it with traffic warden and avoided a ticket. It really puts a dampener on the day and now I'm always clock watching and having to dash back early just in case :(

It's always a bit of a blow when there's suddenly a charge for something you haven't paid for before, but in terms of value for money on entertaining the dcs, then I think 80p or £1.60 for a couple of hours in the park, really is excellent vfm.

You are quite right to be absolutely enraged by this extortionate charge. That way you won't have any emotion to spare for trivialities such as, oh I don't know, stubbing your toe, or global thermonuclear war.

Surely I am allowed to get angry at trivial things as well as major stuff?
Don't most people?

I do understand there's a world of problems out there and believe me, I do get involved and try to do stuff that makes a difference but I can still get annoyed with some little things too.