A council has blamed “visitors who don’t behave responsibly” for increasing parking charges at a popular beauty spot.
Prices are to be ramped up for motorists leaving their vehicles at Frensham Great Pond in Farnham and the new charges will come into force this summer.
And so visitors coming to the Surrey beauty spot will now have to pay £6.50, up from £6, for a full day's parking at the site.
Those people staying up to an hour will be charged £1.60, up from £1.50, stays of between one to two hours will soon cost £3.30 and two to four hours £4.40. This is an increase of 30p and 40p respectively.
The new tariffs at Frensham Great Pond car park will come into effect as of June 12 and will apply every day during the charging hours of 9am to 7pm.
Portfolio holder for operations and enforcement at Waverley Borough Council, Councillor Andy MacLeod, blamed the need to increase parking charges on “visitors who don’t behave responsibly” and “the loss of central government funding”, reported SurreyLive.
He said: “Frensham is one of our most popular green spaces and the new parking tariff will also help us to recoup some of the costs needed to maintain the site and its wildlife to a high standard.”
While Waverley Borough Council’s portfolio holder for health, wellbeing, parks, and leisure, Councillor Kika Mirylees, went on to remind visitors they should help look after the site by respecting the environment and not littering.
She also pointed out that barbecues and bonfires are not allowed due to the risk of wildfires.
Cllr Mirylees said: “Please park only in the car park as it is not allowed anywhere else and illegal parking will be enforced. If the car park is full, the site will be full.”
She continued: “We have many protected species and unusual plants on the site and it’s important we keep the site in good condition to help these species thrive.”
Frensham Great Pond and Common is a Green Flag Award-winning site that covers roughly 1,000 acres owned by the National Trust but largely managed by the council.
