National Trust bring in parking charges at Ringstead Bay
Bank Holiday visitors to a beauty spot in Weymouth could be in for a surprise this weekend
Bank holiday weekend visitors to a popular National Trust beauty spot near Weymouth could be in for a surprise.
The Trust has decided to start charging for car parking at the Southdown hill-top which has traditionally been free.
Rates are £1 an hour, £4 all day.
While National Trust members who display their parking sign, or membership cards, will continue to park for free others will have to use the PayByPhone app to pay for parking.
In a previous attempt to charge for parking the Trust put up parking meters on the site but then took them down again after complaints.
The Trust say the income they get from car parking at the site will help pay for its upkeep, maintaining the track and grassed parking area and the many paths which lead down to the sea.
Said a regional spokesman for the charity:
“We have seen an unprecedented increase in visits to our places in North & West Dorset and we are delighted so many people are choosing to enjoy these special sites. By charging for car parking at Ringstead Bay, as we do at many other properties, we will be able to put the additional funds raised towards the care, maintenance and conservation of the sites and ensure that the parking area is maintained.”
The Trust say that 56,000 cars visited the site in 2021 with the organisation spending £15,000 on car parking conservation and restoration throughout West Dorset.
The other car park in the area, close to the beach, is privately owned and run and also charges.