Parking restrictions in forests begin prior to new car park fees

New Forest Parking Ban Introduced Ahead of Car Park Charges

A new parking ban is being introduced across parts of the New Forest in advance of upcoming car park charges set to be rolled out by Forestry England. Forestry England has confirmed plans to introduce parking fees across all 129 of its car parks from late April, although an exact launch date has yet to be announced. The move comes as part of efforts to manage rising maintenance costs and support ongoing conservation work within the forest. In response, Hampshire County Council has announced a ban on parking along 116 surrounding roads. The measure is designed to prevent “displacement parking”, where drivers avoid paid car parks and instead park on nearby public highways. However, the council clarified that the restrictions will not extend to roadside verges and will not be proactively enforced. Instead, enforcement will only take place where clear safety or access issues arise. Concerns have already been raised by the New Forest Association, which has warned that the introduction of car park charges could lead to an increase in verge parking, potentially damaging the landscape and creating hazards. Forestry England maintains that the new charges are necessary due to the growing costs associated with maintaining car parks and protecting the forest environment. Under the proposed pricing structure, non-members will pay £1.50 for up to one hour, rising to £8 for stays exceeding four hours. Meanwhile, Forestry England members—currently paying £96 annually—will continue to benefit from free parking. In an official statement, Hampshire County Council said the introduction of a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) will allow authorities to respond quickly to any emerging issues related to unsafe or obstructive parking on public roads. The council emphasised that these measures will only be implemented where there is clear evidence of ongoing problems, rather than applied universally across all locations. It also confirmed that the TTRO applies solely to public highways and does not cover adjacent verges or surrounding land within the New Forest. The parking restrictions are currently listed with an approximate start date of 1 April.