A stiff fine is now (January 2009) threatened to be imposed on anybody, locals or visiting tourists, using Horner car park, near Porlock, in West Somerset unless they have paid for parking and displayed or have other valid authorisation from the National Trust.
For many years I, as a local resident in West Somerset, have enjoyed visiting Horner for my lunch break where I have been able to park my small camper-van freely for ten minutes and watch the river flowing by and the chickens and geese in local small-holdings.
It was an idyllic spot, unchanged for more years than I can remember – an English beauty spot that was just as British beauty spots used to be.
Horner was a wonderful place free to all to sit a while, relax and feel grateful that such places still existed and were being offered for the public good.
I took visiting relatives to the Horner tearooms proud of its unique ambiance and often visited there with my wife for coffee cake and a cup of tea.
All that has changed from January 2009. Swingeing fines are now threatened by notices prominently displayed unless you fulfill the requirements laid down by its National Trust owners.
When I visited Horner on Saturday afternoon (24 January 2009), I believe as a direct consequence of these threats, numerous vehicles were avoiding the car park by parking in the passing places around Horner Green making passage along the narrow country roads difficult and potentially dangerous.
Even today at lunchtime (Monday 26th January 2009) when I drove through Horner, there was a car parked in a passing place almost exactly opposite the entrance to a virtually empty Horner car park. The fact that it was raining quite heavily may have deterred others.
When I conveyed my anger and disappointment to the Countryside Manager of National Trust at Holnicote Estate, he said the following, by email:
Experience has shown that the introduction of moderate parking charges elsewhere has not deterred visitors. Most feel that they are making a contribution to the conservation of the National Trust’s 253,349 hectares of outstanding countryside and 707 miles of coastline.
The simple message is pay up or get out!
Sadly, I will not be returning to Horner again, although I live just a few miles up the road, but I don’t think the National Trust or the Holnicote Estate will miss me or give any value to the personal sadness I feel at the loss of this local resource.
On the National Trust web site their header today proudly proclaims:
The National Trust for ever, for everyone
In my opinion the National Trust should add the phrase
provided you can pay!
In sadness.
Bye for now
Rob
I’m surprised that you are upset at having to pay at this carpark -or any NT carpark – How do you imagine that the NT (which is a charity) look after all these open spaces, coastal paths etc. I’m pretty sure they aren’t funded by the Government and certainly not the tax payers. I’ve been a member for 25years and have never considered it a waste of money…their attitude to global warming, conservation and preservation are exemplary. Consider that if you had walked, cycled or caught a bus then that area would indeed be free for you to enjoy.
I have always been under the impression that the National Trust protected the national heritage for all of us … not just for its members.
How long before Dartmoor, Exmoor and other places where people currently freely wander are fenced off with razer wire and guard dogs only to be accessed and enjoyed by fully paid up members?
I no longer visit Horner in my lunch hour and that is a great personal blow to me which has brought me much personal sadness. Walking, cycling and buses are not a viable option given its location.
The National Trust currently says on its web site ‘for ever, for everyone’. I still think they should add ‘as long as they are willing to pay’.