Free parking in parts of the New Forest could soon be a thing of the past, with Forestry England considering new plans to introduce charges across several car parks as early as autumn next year. Many Southampton residents enjoy nothing more than to drive to Park Pale or Dearleap Lane to park and walk in the New Forest.
The move comes after a sharp rise in the cost of maintaining the car parks, which have seen growing use in recent years. Forestry England, the body responsible for managing much of the national park, said it now receives less than a fifth of its core funding from the government and is under pressure to generate additional revenue to keep facilities running.
Totton South Councillor David Harrison said the organisation faces a funding gap of between £1.5 million and £2 million a year. “They are under-resourced by government – they are being pressed to generate income and car parking is one of the obvious ways of doing that,” he said.
Harrison, who opposes the proposals, admitted that the plans have been “in the works for some time.” He added, “There is no such thing as a free car park, we know that. Forestry England have managed to generate smaller amounts of income by franchising things like ice cream vans and coffee vans in the New Forest car parks. Their plan is to introduce parking charges by the Autumn of next year, 2026.”
The New Forest’s car parks are a popular draw for dog walkers and families, some of whom have called for regular users to be offered discounted rates if charges are introduced.
It remains unclear what exactly the new revenue will be spent on, though Councillor Harrison believes repairs to potholes and other maintenance issues are likely to be priorities.
In a statement, Forestry England said: “With less than 20% of our core funding coming from government Forestry England needs to raise the majority of funds for car parks, trails and all of the work we do, ourselves. A sustainable approach to funding is needed if we are to going to be able to continue to do this vital work and provide these facilities.”
If the plans go ahead, visitors to the New Forest could be paying to park by this time next year—a change that’s sure to spark debate among those who cherish free access to one of the South’s most beloved green spaces next to Southampton.
