New parking charges are being introduced across 129 car parks at the New Forest, a famous UK beauty spot in Hampshire. Motorists will now pay £1.50 per hour, with a maximum daily rate of £8 for stays exceeding four hours, under changes implemented by Forestry England.
Concerns over affordability
The new fees have drawn sharp criticism from local leaders. Nick Hubbard, chair of Beaulieu Parish Council, expressed deep concern for those on low incomes or benefits. "We're really concerned about people who are on state pensions, people on disability living allowance, people on Universal Credit – they won't be able to afford these charges," he told the BBC.
Hubbard also highlighted a lack of concessions for disabled visitors, unlike other national parks. "If you go to other parks like Dartmoor or Exmoor, there are concessions for people who have got disabilities. They're big discounts, and nothing is being applied here. We believe that this is a disability tax being imposed," he added.
Forestry England defends charges
Richard Burke, head of regional land management at Forestry England, justified the charges as necessary to address a funding deficit. "This allows us to close the gap on the deficit. It helps us to plant trees, restore habitats, provide car park facilities and toilets, and deal with flytipping," he explained.
Burke noted that the New Forest attracts 15.6 million visitors annually, leading to rapid deterioration of car parks. "The huge number of visitors means car parks are deteriorating really quickly," he said.
Parking rules and grace period
Forestry England has outlined the following key details for drivers:
- Car parks are open daily from 4:00am to 11:00pm.
- A 15-minute grace period applies before charges begin, allowing drop-offs or exits without payment.
- Tickets are transferable between all Forestry England car parks in the New Forest, enabling multi-site visits with one payment.
- Failure to pay or parking during closed hours (11:00pm to 4:00am) may result in a parking charge notice (PCN).
The new charges have sparked debate over balancing conservation funding with accessibility for all visitors.
