Dartmoor National Park Authority considers car park price increase amidst financial challenges

In a pivotal meeting set for February 2, the Dartmoor National Park Authority is poised to address the potential escalation of car park charges as outlined in a comprehensive report.

If approved, the proposed charges for 2024/25, effective from April 1, would be £3.20 for up to 3 hours, £5.30 for the entire day, and £10.65 for coaches.

Publicly available on their website, the report calls for the adoption of a formal car park charging policy that would guide changes proposed in the annual Fees and Charges report, crucially presented to the authority for determination by the Chief Financial Officer.

The urgency for this increase has been underscored by a report from the Dartmoor Park Association, accentuating the financial strain faced by the National Park Authority.

The report has shed light on the authority's history of charging for car parking, starting in 2013 at Princetown and expanding to Haytor, Postbridge, and Meldon Reservoir in 2018.

Despite approving an increase in car park fees in March 2020, the implementation was delayed due to the pandemic, software updates, and staffing issues.

The subsequent decision in January 2023 to increase charges to £3 for up to 3 hours and £5 for the entire day was a response to budget constraints and escalating costs.

Successive government directives have explained the need for National Park Authorities to raise revenue to cover costs, making fees and charges, including car parking, vital for supporting their work and the delivery of National Park purposes.

In the 2023/24 fiscal year, car park charges are expected to generate £160,000 against a budget of £120,000.

The proposed car park charging policy introduces guiding principles, suggesting an annual change based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in September of the previous year. The minimum increase is proposed to be 2%, and the maximum is set at 10%, aiming to prevent dramatic spikes in charges. The recommended increase for 2024/25 is based on a CPI of 6.3% in September 2023.

Members are urged to consider this policy, calling for the need for consistency and avoiding significant price increases.

The financial implications include advertising costs of £1,000 + VAT, to be covered by the car parking budget, and a plan to upgrade all ticket machines to cashless systems as part of the medium-term financial plan.

While addressing potential concerns about equality and impact assessment, the authority expects all car park machines to be cashless by autumn 2024. Users can also pay through a parking app (currently RingGo), with provisions for cash payments at National Park Visitor Centres when open.

The meeting's outcome holds significant consequences for both visitors and the financial sustainability of Dartmoor National Park.