Talkin Tarn
Car parking charges due to start
Some visitors to Talkin Tarn Country Park, who stay more than
two hours, will have to pay a small parking charge from next Monday
(6 August).
Car parking ticket machines will be installed in the Talkin Tarn
car park this week and notices telling visitors about the new
charges have already been put up around the grounds.
From next week, there will be:
- free parking for cars and mini-buses for up to two hours
(vehicle owners will have to display a parking disc marking their
time of arrival);
- a £2 charge for cars that park for longer than two hours;
- a £4 charge for mini-buses that park for longer than two
hours;
- a £5 charge for buses (with no two hour exemption);
- free parking at all times for motorbikes; and
- permits issued to Talkin Tarn's user groups.
Carlisle City Council took over the management of the Country
Park from Cumbria County Council in April last year. The
environmental measures introduced as part of the £1million
improvement works have resulted in the site being chosen as one of
three in the Award for Sustainability in the 2007 Public Servants
of the Year Awards.
The funding raised from the car parking charges will go towards
the ongoing running costs of the country park and its
facilities.
Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr Mike Mitchelson said:
Charging for car parking is a sensitive issue and
the ongoing revenue needs have to be balanced with the impact on
the tarn's visitors. We took on board the comments from local
residents and the Tarn's existing users before making the decision
to introduce the nominal charge. Income is essential for the future
maintenance and management of the site, and we believe the car
parking charges will help the future development of the country
park without heavily penalising visitors.
The car park charges apply 365 days a year (including weekends
and bank holidays).
