Forest visitors respond ahead of parking charges

Visitors to a Kent woodland have said they may "think twice" after the introduction of parking fees.

Forestry England will introduce charges at King's Wood, near Ashford, from 1 October and is expected to bring in charges at Clowes Wood, near Whitstable, soon after.

The organisation's East District director Dan Whyment said the move was "not lining anybody's pockets" and that the funds raised were "reinvested into the forest".

Some walkers at King's Wood said they were concerned the charge would dissuade visitors, but others told the BBC that paying could be worth it to help maintain the site.

Parking charges are already enforced at some Forestry England sites in the county, while others have maintained free parking.

Signage at King's Wood directs visitors to pay for parking by phones and warns that number plate recognition cameras will enforce the charges.

Motorists with £96 annual Forestry England membership can park for free at all its sites.

"I don't object to paying for parking if it's a reasonable fee," said Kathy Carr, from Faversham.

"Forestry England will use the cash to maintain places like this, which is good, but I am concerned about having to use your phone to park as the signal is not strong here."

Raju Limbu, from Ashford, visits King's Wood multiple times each month but told the BBC a parking charge would "mean I think twice about coming here in the future".

Patricia De Pasquale from Charing said: "You get charged for everything these days, for things which were previously free.

"People will either not come here as much, or park on the road, which is dangerous around here."

Forestry England's Whyment told BBC Radio Kent that it cost the organisation between £4,000 and £5,000 every time they had to resurface a car park.

"We get amounts of fly-tipping there that cost money to clean up," he added.

"The charges don't create a profit for us, they just help stave off the increase in pressures that we're feeling cost-wise."

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