Outrage and Upset in the New Forest over Parking Fee<\/p>\n
Forestry England is Upsetting Everyone by imposing Parking charges! <\/strong><\/p>\n There has been widespread concern at the introduction of parking charges by Forestry England which owns 129 car parks in the New Forest.\u00a0 Aggravating this concern is Forestry England\u2019s refusal to hold a public consultation about ending centuries of free access to this glorious environment.<\/p>\n As of 20th<\/sup> April 2026, those wishing to park and enjoy the beauty of the ancient woodlands will have to pay, after a fifteen-minute grace period:<\/p>\n \u00a31.50 for 1 hour<\/p>\n \u00a33 for 2 hours<\/p>\n \u00a35 for 4 hours<\/p>\n \u00a38 for more than four hours.<\/p>\n To be fair, these tickets are transferrable between Forestry England car parks enabling visitors to make multiple stops within their time allowance following payment on the Ringo app.\u00a0 Indeed, payment via the app may be made up to midnight on the day of parking.<\/p>\n For \u00a394 per annum, visiting woodland-lovers can purchase an annual Forestry England membership giving unlimited parking in all Forestry England car parks in the country, including the 129 in the New Forest.<\/p>\n Beaulieu Parish Council has prepared and submitted a 35-page document outlining its concerns about the imposition of parking charges.\u00a0 These range from contrasting the discounts given for disabled drivers to park at other National Parks (there are no concessions in the New Forest car parks), to concern that older woodlanders will struggle to navigate payment on the Ringo app or online.<\/p>\n Another issue worrying locals is the likelihood that people will park on verges and gateways to avoid paying for parking.\u00a0 Not only is this damaging to the environment, where animals roam free to graze at will, but it is also dangerous and illegal.<\/p>\n To prevent the parking issues above, Hampshire District Council has banned parking on 116 roads to prevent displacement parking.<\/p>\n While the uproar is loud, Forestry England justifies its charges by pointing out that car parking in villages and coastal sites run by the New Forest District Council is already pay-and-display.\u00a0 Furthermore, it states that caring for the New Forest is increasingly expensive.\u00a0 From the cost of materials to repair and maintain the car parks, which has gone up by 50% over the last three years, to the cost of the ten or so members of staff whose NI contributions have increased under new legislation, they need \u00a3500,000 just to break even, let alone make improvements.<\/p>\n In addition, prolonged terrible weather has led to increased damage to car parks and the trails from them, aggravated by ever-increasing usage.<\/p>\n Forestry England receives only 20% of its core funding and has to make up the deficit from timber sales and, you\u2019ve guessed it, parking charges.\u00a0 The imposition of charges will fund improvements and numbers of rangers to ensure parking restrictions are adhered to.<\/p>\n The New Forest National Planning Authority (NFNPA) does not own any car parks in the New Forest and has no jurisdiction over Forestry England to change the decision.\u00a0 It has, however, distilled the comments from its own surveys about the parking charges and is pressing for the following:<\/p>\n