Visitors at popular UK beauty spot fume over 'daylight robbery' parking charges
Visitors to a popular UK beach spot have fumed at the "extortionate' parking charges as summer gets into full swing.
Woolacombe Beach in North Devon is a popular destination for surfers and families and is recognised as one of the best in the country - but tourists have been left shocked at the parking prices.
Attracting crowds of tourists during the summer months, Woolacombe is a haven for people looking for a perfect beach day, but some disgruntled visitors have slammed the cost of parking which can be as much as £12 - depending on when you visit.
There are a choice of car parksto pick from if you’re visiting Woolacombe Beach alongside additional roadside parking for shorter stays.
Both long stay car parks - The Esplanade Car Park or Sandy Burrows Car Park - are owned by Parkin Estates. Charges vary depending on the time of year, from £5 per day to £12 per day. The Esplanade Car Park offers an 'Early Bird' Scheme, meaning visitors leaving before 1pm, or arriving after 6pm benefit similarly.
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However some aren't happy with the structure in place. Reviews on TripAdvisor have called the fee a rip-off, while others have said they don’t mind it too much, reports Devon Live.
Attracting crowds of tourists during the summer months, Woolacombe is a haven for people looking for a perfect beach day (Getty Images/Collection Mix: Subjects RF)User Charley M said the parking charge was extortionate and wasn't happy with having to pay a full day rate despite only staying for one hour.
She commented on June 5: “Car parking… £10 for one hour?! We had no other choice but to pay it.
“Daylight robbery. We were taking little one for her first play in the sand, turns out she isn’t a beach babe! Otherwise we would have stayed longer. Should have gone to Wales. Waste of time- won’t visit again.”
Another user, Kelvinjohn agreed that the parking charges were 'unacceptable'.
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They said: "Car parking charges have become extortionate and really are a rip off despite their contributions to RNLI and beach maintenance. Ten pounds to park a car for a day or an hour is unacceptable."
However, not everyone has been slating the parking charge, another reviewer said: “£10 for parking for the day might seem steep, but I really don't mind if facilities are provided in the sense of maintained toilets, rubbish bins and upkeep of the beach.”
The car parks are operated by Parkin Estates - which says the fees are integral to providing the high status and standard of the beach and facilities (Richard Walden/North Devon News group))The car parks are operated by Parkin Estates - which says the fees are integral to providing the high status and standard of the beach and facilities.
Parkin Estates says: “Considerable ongoing investment is made to provide a high standard of well designed facilities, exceptional cleanliness, and community aimed projects sympathetic to Woolacombe’s historical and architectural background.”
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The parking charges have been a point of contention for a few years, as Patricia423 reviewed the destination in 2014 and said the parking charges were a ‘rip-off’ then.
Overall, people are recommending visitors who are looking for a short stop at Woolacombe Beach to find elsewhere to park.
But those who are after a full day at the beach, the flat fee is reasonable as it covers all the maintenance of the stunning location.
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