Essex Ramblers dismay at Epping Forest car parking charges

The City of London Corporation is implementing charges at 14 previously free car parks from April.

Drivers will have to pay £1.50 up to one hour, £2.50 up to two, £4.00 up to four, or £6 for up to six hours.

Free car parking will continue at the 36 other car parks across the forest, however plans are in the early stages to extend parking charges to more in the coming years.

The West Essex Ramblers – a local branch of leading walking charity The Ramblers Association – say members are ‘saddened’ by the move.

“During lockdown members have made extensive use of the Forest for individual walks, even if they haven’t been able to walk as a group”, a spokesperson for the Ramblers said.

“However, the introduction of significant charges to the car parks that they regularly use means that their access to the forest in the future will be severely limited.”

Of Epping Forest’s 4.2 million annual visitors, 53 per cent arrive by car, with 930 available car parking spaces.

Both Bury Road, in Chingford, and High Beach, in the centre of the forest, are regular start points for Ramblers’ walks and they are included in the first phase of implementation for car park charging.

“Epping Forest is a wonderful resource for the whole community. The health benefits of being outdoors are tremendous”, said David Keane, chair of West Essex Ramblers.

“These charges will certainly make people, especially from more disadvantaged communities, think twice about coming to the forest.”

The Ramblers have voiced particular concern over City of London’s public consultation.

The consultation did not seek public opinion on whether charges should be implemented, but instead only asked whether the charges should be higher in peak times or at peak locations and whether people would pay £150 per annum a ‘supporter scheme’ annual pass.

Member and president of Essex Area Ramblers, Len Banister, said “It is with great sadness that I have read of the CoL’s decision to introduce exorbitant charges for its car parks. I urge the Corporation to reconsider its ill-thought-out plans so that something more targeted at ordinary people enjoying their environment can emerge.”

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