Residents say they are ‘victims of Enchanted Forest event’s success’

Pitlochry residents say they are victims of the success of the Enchanted Forest event after the manager of the land explained why parking charges were being introduced.

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has announced that free parking at Faskally Woods will end in January.

Cars will be charged £2 an hour, £3 for the day and £10 for a minibus. An annual pass will cost £50.

The woods are a popular walking spot for residents of Pitlochry, who often drive there due to it being almost two miles from the town centre.

They are also the location of the annual Enchanted Forest event, which attracts up to 80,000 visitors over the course of a month.

Now the land manager suggests the site’s popularity is a reason for the introduction of parking charges.

A spokesperson for FLS said: “Looking after all of our visitor destinations and maintaining them to an acceptable standard – especially those that are most visited – does place increasing demands on our resources.”

A statement by Friends of Faskally Forest Parking Charge Protest said: “This parking charge is being introduced due to the popularity of the forest – which has been created by FLS by starting Enchanted Forest in 2002.

“Many of us feel we are being unfairly penalised by this.”

The FLS spokesperson emphasised that the £50 annual pass works out at 13p per day and allows for up to two named vehicles.

PROTEST: Julie Mayer of Friends of Faskally Forest Parking Charge Protest, with dog Molly, has started a petition over parking fees at Faskally.