Posted on Friday 15th March 2024
Charging will be voluntary at some car parks for the first two months after introduction.
Annual car parking permits for country parks are to rise by half a penny a day after being frozen for five years.
A 12-month permit for all sites will rise by £2 to £38 at Staffordshire County Council’s country park car parks.
Charging is in place at Chasewater and parts of Cannock Chase, but its introduction at other country parks and greenways has been delayed until during 2024/25 despite being approved several years ago.
Victoria Wilson, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Communities and Culture, said:
Use of our country parks keeps increasing, as their popularity grows and more homes are built in their catchment areas, so we have to invest in maintenance, conservation and provide the appropriate facilities.
At the same time we have to work out how to make these spaces attractive and accessible to a wide range of people without damaging what makes them special.”
The county council reinvests proceeds in keeping sites safe and accessible.
The introduction of charging at Apedale, Deep Hayes, Greenway Bank and Froghall, as well as the greenway at Rudyard, was approved in 2019 but implementation was delayed first by the pandemic and then the Cost of Living crisis.
Cllr Wilson added:
We consciously delayed the introduction of charging in the north of the county to support communities during the Cost of Living crisis and when charging is finally introduced later this year it will be on a voluntary basis for an initial period of two months.
We continually need to invest in the county council’s extensive countryside estate to maintain the country parks, greenways and picnic areas as one of the jewels in Staffordshire’s crown for all to enjoy.”
From April 1st the annual permit will work out at 10 pence a day. Short term charges will be £1.20 for up to two hours and £3.50 for the day.