...By Jack Sylva for TDPel Media.
The National Trust has come under fire after removing traditional pay-and-display meters from around 30 of its car parks, making them “app only.”
One of the car parks affected is Frensham Little Pond, a popular destination for ramblers and nature enthusiasts in west Surrey.
Visitors now have to use the parking app PayByPhone to pay for parking, and just under 4% of National Trust car parks are now “cashless.”
Councils are increasingly moving towards cashless alternatives, leading to concerns that 2 million people will face a future in “parking meter deserts.”
Charity bosses and MPs have criticised the trend, calling it “appalling” and urging council chiefs to consider the impact on older motorists.
Frustration Among Visitors
Visitors to Frensham Little Pond have expressed frustration at having to use the parking app PayByPhone.
Some visitors, such as landscape architect Phil Brown, 57, have refused to download yet another parking app onto their phone and see no reason why they can’t pay by cash or card.
Others have voiced concerns about the bureaucracy of the process and the limited availability of the cafe, which provides an alternative payment option.
National Trust’s Reasoning
The National Trust confirmed that it removed cash machines at the Frensham Little Pond car park in 2021 after the vandalism of four machines, with thieves successfully stealing or attempting to steal cash.
While the National Trust has apologised for the impact this has had on some users of the car park, it has not indicated that it will be bringing back traditional meters.
Campaigners’ Response
Campaigners have called on the National Trust to reconsider its decision to take away the opportunity to park in some of its car parks for people who don’t have smartphones.
Baroness Altmann, a former pensions minister and campaigner for older people, has called it “wrong” and “shameful.”
Dennis Reed of pensioners’ campaign group Silver Voices added, “Even during their leisure time, older people are being isolated by technology.”
In conclusion, the removal of traditional parking meters by the National Trust and the growing trend towards cashless alternatives have sparked frustration among visitors, particularly among those who do not have smartphones or are uncomfortable with using them for payment.
Campaigners have called for a reconsideration of the decision to provide options for those who prefer to pay by cash or card.
