We are pleased that the City of London Corporation is conducting a review into car park charging across Epping Forest. This review will report back to its committee meeting in May. We would like you to help inform our response.
We want to protect and preserve the Forest for the enjoyment of generations to come, and that means minimising the damage caused by cars to the Forest through pollution and damage to the Forest floor (ie. on verges, etc) as some car parking is spreading into the Forest. We therefore support the Corporation’s priority of encouraging sustainable transport to, from, and around the Forest.
In relation to car parking charges specifically, while we appreciate the case they have made for introducing charging, we believe the Corporation needs to take a more sophisticated approach to car parking charges, taking into account the locations of each car park, how each car park is used, the impact of car parking in and around the Forest, and the opportunities it provides for people using the Forest.
Our initial thoughts on issues the Corporation might like to consider in their review include:
- 6 hour time limit.
The 6-hour maximum visitor stay prevents people and groups who might want to enjoy the Forest for longer periods of time, for example, people undertaking long, all-day walks, specific activities requiring a longer time, or day trips to the Forest. We understand that such limits might be necessary in some areas of the south of the Forest, where car parks have been used as “commuter” car parks, thereby reducing the opportunities for Forest visitors, but this is not the case in most areas of the north of the Forest. - Electric vehicles.
Exemptions and/or discounts for electric vehicles as they cause less damage to the Forest and its biodiversity. - People on lower incomes.
The Forest, an asset previously enjoyed in common before being protected by the Act, should be accessible to everyone to enjoy responsibly. We are concerned that the scheme as introduced prejudices against people who love and cherish the Forest but who may be unable to afford to pay car parking fees. This has impacted a number of our members, including one of our very regular volunteers who has been visiting the Forest since a child, over 70 years ago, but who now no longer visits the Forest to walk his dog. We believe the Corporation should review how it can reduce or remove car parking charges for people on lower incomes.
These are just some of our initial thoughts. We would like to know your views on what you would like to see considered as part of the review, to help to inform our response to the Corporation in due course.
Please let us have your views via policy@efht.org.uk before the end of February to help inform our response.