A councillor has received “numerous complaints” about parking charges at a Dalbeattie beauty spot less than a fortnight after they were introduced.
Forestry and Land Scotland have started charging £1 to park at the Town Wood for an hour – and the fee can only be paid using the RingGo app, by phone or online.
And according to Abbey councillor Kim Lowe that has created a host of problems during the Easter period.
She said: “After just over a week of charges, I am receiving numerous complaints from people.”
Issues raised include problems using the RingGo app as well as increased parking on the High Street causing access issues for residents with drives and for buses and lorries to pass.
Councillor Lowe added: “I had raised all of these in advance with FLS, especially the experience of what had happened during the car park closure in the Covid lockdown when the High Street became the car park.
“I also suggested advertising with the QR code so people could load the RingGo app in advance of a visit. In the event no targeted advertising was done.
“Whilst FLS need to raise funds to maintain paths and keep trees safe, the current system is not operating as expected and is creating negative comment on social media and elsewhere.
“Going for a walk in the woods should not create any stress.
“The payment system should be quick, easy and practical, and on the current system, where people are trying to avoid paying, it could mean there will not be the level of income anticipated and less for maintenance of the woodland we go to walk in.”
Signs warning people that the charges were being introduced appeared last month.
It now costs £1 an hour or £3 to park all day – and it must be done using a phone number, the app or a website.
Charges also exist at the nearby car park for the 7Stanes mountain bike trails in Dalbeattie Forest – but these can also be paid in cash.
Visitors can also apply for an annual pass, with Blue Badge holders not being charged.
An FLS spokesman said: “In the majority of instances visitors will be able to pay onsite at the time of parking.
“However, as well as being able to pay via the RingGo app or a dedicated local phone number, visitors who prefer to pay via their home computer or landline will be able to pay up to 72 hours after a visit.
“We have found that many people think that a modest, proportionate car parking fee is an acceptable contribution to make for the health and well-being benefits that well-maintained woodlands provide.
“Together with the income from our annual passes, this helps relieve the pressure both on our resources and on the local teams that work to maintain them to the standards that visitors expect.
“We would also ask all visitors to park responsibly so that they avoid fines and do not negatively impact on the community, especially emergency services
access.”
