Pay and conserve at National Park car parks

Dartmoor National Park has now installed pay and conserve parking metres at its car parks at Haytor (upper and lower car parks) Postbridge and Meldon Reservoir. 

The context for introducing the new pay and conserve scheme follows a 40% reduction in National Park funding since 2011, making the maintenance of car parks and other visitor facilities in the National Park a significant financial challenge. A voluntary parking donation scheme set up in these carparks, which it was hoped would raise income, proved unsustainable as donations were as low as 15 pence per vehicle.

Formal car park charges were introduced successfully at Princetown in 2013, replacing the voluntary donation scheme, and considerably increasing income.

Andrew Watson, Head of Recreation, Access and Estates for Dartmoor National Park said: "Significant financial investment is required to maintain the car parks at these sites, with over £200,000 of repairs and maintenance identified over the next 2 -3 years.

"The pay and conserve charges will help us to provide a sustainable solution to the maintenance of our car parks and other visitor facilities, with all income from charging being ring fenced to support this and important conservation projects in the National Park."

Car park charges will apply from Monday to Sunday, between the hours of 10am and 6pm - £1 for cars up to 3 hours, £2 cars over 3 hours, £1 blue badge holders (all day) and £4 minibuses and coaches.