Quarry Wood outside Elgin latest local trail set to have parking charge introduced

QUARRY Wood is the latest local trail set to have a parking charge introduced next month.

From June 1 visitors will need to pay £1 per hour and £3 to park all day at the popular spot located just under two miles outside Elgin.

Visitors will also need to pay for parking at Torrieston Walks from next month onwards.

Both sites are managed by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) which has introduced the 'modest fee' to help maintain the trails.

A spokesperson for Forestry and Land Scotland, said: "Maintaining visitor trail and facility standards, especially at the most popular destinations, places increasing demands on our resources and while our central budget meets some of those costs, it does not meet all of them."

They added: "The modest daily fee we charge at some of our destinations, which most visitors find acceptable, helps relieve the pressure on the local teams that work to maintain them to the standards that visitors expect."

Councillor Jérémie Fernandes (SNP, Elgin North) wrote to the government agency to ask for a review of the decision to introduce charges at Torrieston last week.

He claimed that the move could price locals out of visiting the area. He has reaffirmed that stance following news that Quarry Wood will also have charges introduced.

Cllr Fernandes said: “The decision to introduce parking charges at Quarry Wood is very disappointing.

“I am not aware of any consultation between FLS, the public and partners taking place ahead of the move. I found out about it when constituents contacted me after seeing notice signs.

“After last week’s news of the introduction of car parking charges at Torrieston, this will be another blow for people who regularly go for forest walks in and around Elgin.

“Forest walks are good for people's physical and mental health. In the long run, making them unaffordable can only add to the burden on our health services.

“It is evident that people are not prepared to pay to access the car park, and they will be tempted to park outside the designated areas. At Quarry Wood, the car park is directly next to a narrow road, so it becomes a road safety issue too.

“I have already contacted Forestry and Land Scotland, and I hope this decision will be reviewed."

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