Car parking charge is a necessary measure

FOLLOWING your letter in last week’s paper about the Outwoods, as chair of the Outwoods Management Committee I’d like to correct a few inaccuracies.

The volunteers who help at the Outwoods do not have to pay for parking as they are exempt.

The cost of maintaining the Outwoods to the borough council is around £146,000 a year

The deeds do not mention parking.

The Outwoods were given to the people of the borough and the cost was meant to be covered from the sale of wood which of course it doesn’t. Therefore the borough council and taxpayers have picked up the bill.

The council clearly has a duty to taxpayers to ensure it is operating as efficiently as possible and introducing a moderate parking charge was thought to be necessary, appropriate and will only help make the facility better.

For frequent users, an annual season pass is available for £40, which covers two cars, and equates to less than 11p a day. Alternatively people can choose to pay £1 to park for each visit which is cheaper than many other parks.

The charges were introduced in April and the council has not had any complaints.

The Outwoods is a wonderful facility and we feel this is a necessary measure to make sure it stays that way for the benefit of residents.

Coun Hilary Fryer, chair of the Outwoods Management Committee