Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Historic West estate to charge visitors for entry
VISITORS to a popular West beauty spot owned by one of the region’s best-known aristocrats will have to pay up to £30 per year to enter its grounds from next month.
New electric pedestrian gates on four main routes into Cirencester Park in Gloucestershire will be activated on Friday, March 15 which means every visitor will need a pass to access its grounds.
These automated pedestrian gates have been installed at Cecily Hill, Windsor Walk, Barton Lane and Cirencester Park Caravan & Motorhome Club.
The Bathurst Estate team said the new charges will “support conservation work” while Lord Bathurst said the pass system will fund maintenance at the park.
Local residents within Gloucestershire postcodes of GL7 0, GL7 1, GL7 2, GL7 5, GL7 6 and GL7 7 and the villages of Edgworth, Frampton Mansell, Ashton Keynes and Latton can claim a Cirencester Park Community Pass. This will require a oneoff deposit of £10 per pass and can be applied for as a household or an individual.
An individual Cirencester Park Annual Pass will cost £30 and an annual household pass, which can be used by up to six people in one household, will cost £50. Visitors can also buy a Cirencester Park Day Pass via the Bathurst Estate website or at the ticket office at Cecily Hill Gates and on Windsor Walk.
A Day Pass, which costs £4 for adults and £2 for children, will allow the visitor to enter Cirencester Park from 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4.30pm. Students enrolled at Cirencester Deer Park School, Cirencester College and the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) can apply for a discounted Student Pass for £10.
The Bathurst family has run the Grade I-listed Cirencester Park estate since 1695. The 18th-century landscape park was laid out by the 1st Earl Bathurst between 1714 to 1775 with the help of Alexander Pope. The site grew in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic as residents and visitors sought to go for long walks during lockdown restrictions.
A spokesperson for Bathurst Estate said: “The Bathurst Estate is committed to improving the visitor experience within Cirencester Park with the provision of new facilities, information points, family-friendly spaces such as a children’s play area and the picnic arboretum at The Old Kennels, while retaining the character of a Grade I-listed parkland.
“The management and maintenance of estates and private parklands is ever evolving, with landowners embracing new ways to ensure continuity in their conservation and preservation works; Cirencester Park is no different. The introduction of passes will support this, as well as the work of those employed to ensure the park is safe, that pathways are well-maintained and visitor areas are clean, interesting and enjoyable.”
Lord Bathurst said the new passes will support Phase II of the Broad Avenue Restoration Project at the park this autumn, as well as wider maintenance at the historic grounds.
He said: “The physical and health benefits that people and their dogs get from the restorative powers of being in the natural environment of Cirencester Park is as important today as when the park was first established. We are delighted to continue to share Cirencester Park with the local community and visitors to the area.”
The controversial plans have been long discussed by the Bathurst Estate, which led to dozens of complaints from Cirencester residents and regular visitors.
The Bathurst Estate explained the automation of the existing pedestrian gates would remove the need for staff to physically unlock and lock the gates each day. A spokesman added this will allow them to focus on the upkeep of the park and preventing damage and littering.
A pass is not required to visit The Old Kennels, its facilities including Roots+Seeds Kitchen Garden, the shops, play area and Jubilee Community Arboretum picnic area. The picnic area is open daily from 8am to 5pm.
We are delighted to continue to share Cirencester Park with the local community and visitors to the area LORD BATHURST