Devon country estate to charge dog walkers £60 a year

Lord Ivar Mountbatten proposed a £60-a-year Friends of Bridwell pass, with perks such as discounts on food and drink in the cafe, to "help keep Bridwell open"

A country estate is to charge dog walkers and other people £60 a year for access to the parkland.

Bridwell, near Uffculme in Devon, announced the move amid a "rise in living and operating costs".

Mike Pollard, open spaces parish councillor for Uffculme, said it was a "shame" and would deter some people.

Lord Ivar Mountbatten, owner of the 100-acre estate and second cousin to King Charles, declined to comment any further on the charge.

He said on the estate's website: "The rise in living and operational costs in the past 12 months means our maintenance, management and operational obligations have spiralled far higher than the return of coffee, cake and community events can cover."

The £60-a-year Friends of Bridwell pass, starting "this spring", would come with perks such as discounts on food and drink in the cafe, to "help keep Bridwell open", he said.

"The reality is that we simply aren't in a position to continue as we are for much longer without making some strategic cost effective changes."

He added that the pass was "well researched and fair" and "we understand these are difficult financial times for everyone".

Mr Pollard told BBC News: "It's a great shame because a lot of people use the park and they will be disappointed.

"In effect it is shutting it down to a lot of people because they cannot pay the money.

"But he is in an awkward position and it is private land."

An estate spokesperson confirmed Lord Ivar was the second cousin of King Charles through his great-grandfather Prince Louis of Battenberg.

Lord Ivar also claims family links on the estate website with many of the royal families of Europe, as well as the last Tsar of Russia Nicholas II.

Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].