Country park's £200 car pass branded 'ridiculous'

Parking has been free - with voluntary donations requested - since the park opened 10 years ago

The £200 cost of a country park's new annual parking pass has been called "ridiculous".

In January the approval of a daily £2 charge at Gedling Country Park in Nottinghamshire prompted fears some voluntary groups like parkrun would be hit.

Now the newly-confirmed cost of the annual pass has been heavily criticised by park users, who said it would likely push parking on to nearby roads.

Gedling Borough Council said proceeds would be invested in the park, and charges were in line with annual permit charges across its car parks.

Ruth Gentle said she would look for a different parkrun venue

The park, which opened nearly 10 years ago, is on land reclaimed from a former colliery.

The council says maintaining the area costs about £180,000 per year and a voluntary donation scheme raised only £4,000 a year.

The authority has estimated the income from the daily charges could be up to £200,000 a year - assuming a 50% reduction in vehicles.

Ruth Gentle, 39, from Mapperley, visits every Sunday for junior parkrun as well as regular walks.

She told the BBC she was already considering a different venue before hearing about the £200 pass.

"It is a ridiculous price, I don't know where they have plucked that from," she said.

"We are looking at doing parkrun at a different place, which is a shame because this is a really nice one.

"But when you are just coming for 20 minutes - the junior parkrun is only 2k so it doesn't take long - it's just not really worth it."

Diane Maloney (right) said Gedling Country Park did not offer enough to fill a day

Diane Maloney, 69, from Arnold, said she currently visited about once a week, often with friend Liz Pritchett.

"It's nice to come for a quick walk, maybe have a coffee and sometimes I bring the grandchildren," she said.

"The £2 was colouring my thinking on how often to come because it is not a place you can spend a day.

"It's a place you can spend an hour and a half walking around, perhaps two on the play park.

"In contrast, Rushcliffe Country Park, which also has a charge, you can take a picnic, you can sit there all day, there are plenty of facilities. You have not got that here."

John Wragg predicted visitors would park in nearby streets to avoid the charges

John Wragg, 73, of Carlton, said: "I can cope with £2 for the amount of times I come but £200 is silly season.

"I would think something more like £50 - but £200 will just mean people park round the corner outside people's houses."

Two new pay and display machines are expected to cost £12,000, the council has said, with blue badge holders getting three hours free.

The charges are currently due to begin on 1 April.

Free parking elsewhere

Council leader John Clarke said: "All income generated will be reinvested in the park's upkeep and maintenance.

"Following a consultation, it was agreed to introduce an annual permit for frequent visitors, costing £200, in line with the council's annual permit charges across its car parks.

"The council has also listened to feedback and will provide a number of free permits to parkrun volunteers and trustees of the Friends of Gedling Country Park."

The fee is higher than season tickets offered for other parks in the county.

An annual parking permit for Rushcliffe Country Park, managed by Rushcliffe Borough Council, is £55 while the county council-run Rufford Abbey offers £50 annual permits and the private-owned Thoresby Park charges £40 plus a £5 security deposit for a season pass.

Meanwhile, there is no charge for parking at Woodthorpe Grange Park, Bestwood Country Park, Colwick Country Park and Cotgrave Country Park.