Dartmoor parking charges set to increase

Charges compensate for falling Government support

The cost of parking on Dartmoor is likely to increase this spring.

Small increases in fees for using the moor’s car parks are likely to be agreed by the Dartmoor National Park Authority when it meets later this week.

Members will also discuss budgets for the coming year, with a warning that cash support for the country’s national parks is dwindling.

The government says the parks need to raise money wherever possible to cover costs, and parking charges are among the ways they should do it. Car park fees currently raise around £160,000 towards the authority’s work on the moor, and raising them will raise an extra £10,000.

But the fees will only go up in line with the consumer price index, meaning the charges rise by pence rather than pounds.

The authority only started formally charging for parking at Princetown in 2013 and at Haytor, Postbridge and Meldon Reservoir in 2018. Lydford and Brentor have since been added to the list.

The charges currently stand at £3 for up to three hours or £5 all day.

A report for this week’s authority meeting says: “Successive ministers and secretaries of state have been clear that National Park Authorities should raise revenue wherever possible to cover costs.

“There is a difficult balance to be struck between providing access and facilities which cost money whilst not putting barriers in place that might prevent that access.

“Costs to maintain our car parks and associated facilities are significant and will continue to rise due to inflation. Car park charges are an important source of income.”

If authority members agree the changes it will mean Dartmoor visitors paying £3.20 for up to three hours or £5.30 all day. Coaches will pay £10.65.