Free parking at one of the UK’s prettiest national parks is set to become a thing of the past amid rising costs linked to Labour’s tax hikes. Forestry England, which is responsible for 130 car parks in the New Forest, has confirmed controversial plans to introduce parking charges in the beauty spot to enable continued maintenance amid “rising costs and visitor numbers”. The scheme, which is due to rolled out next year, will see local people and visitors charged £1.50 for one hour of parking, rising to £3 for two hours, £5 for four hours and £8 for any longer periods.
Regular visitors will also be able to buy annual memberships for under £2 a week, offering unlimited parking in all Forestry England car parks across the country. The changes have met with criticism from locals including Lib Dem New Forest councillor David Harrison, who said Labour’s “damaging” financial policies since coming to power in 2024 were partially to blame.
“Labour’s increase in National Insurance rate for employees has been particularly damaging,” he told The Telegraph. “There has been a lack of increase in funding in line with inflation. The New Forest is a newer national park so they have less assets to generate income and we have got to a stage where we need extra money to maintain them properly.”
“It is not clear what the parking money will be spent on but I don’t like the prospect of money collected here being used more widely nationally,” he added.
Forestry England said caring for the New Forest had become “increasingly expensive”, including “the price of materials needed to repair and maintain car parks which have increased by more than 50% over the last three years” and “higher levels of damage to trails and car parks … caused by prolonged bad weather and increasing usage”.
It said the money raised by parking charges would help the organisation to “continue its critical work and avoid closing car parks or trails”.
Craig Harrison, forest management director for Forestry England in the south, added: “The New Forest is a very special place. Not everyone is aware of the huge amount of work it takes to look after the area including planting thousands of trees and caring for the forest’s special wildlife. We clear litter, remove fly-tips, speak to visitors, and patrol the area every day of the year. We also maintain hundreds of trails, paths and car parks so that people can enjoy getting out into nature.
“This vital work is no longer affordable given rising prices and visitor numbers. Charging for car parking will play an important role in us being able to continue to look after this precious landscape.
“We know how much the New Forest is valued by the local community so those who come here often will be able to benefit from highly discounted parking by becoming a Forestry England member. Everyone paying to park will be making a valued contribution in helping to look after this special place for all to enjoy.”