Sky News are reporing that "Britain's parks and green spaces are "on the edge of a precipice" because of funding cuts, says the Heritage Lottery Fund".
One solution being considered is to charge 'Users'.
"A £700m cash boost in the mid 1990s from lottery money has helped get parks in good health but the report says that councils are cutting budgets in order to cut costs.
Dame Jenny Abramsky, chair of Heritage Lottery Fund, says: "Parks are highly valued, precious places that are vital to our physical and emotional well-being. Following decades of decline, lottery funding sparked a parks renaissance but that is now at risk."
Reports Joe Tidy @ Sky News Reporte : See full article here
Could it be good for our industry ? More investment in green spaces, more career opportunities
Vs
Bad for society & our 'health' ? loss of access to the general public unless happy to dip into their pockets etc
How could / would Pay-Per-Visit work ?
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to be honest it would result in lots of the smaller parsk being sold off for development, or ending up as so many are now - just grass, none of the planting, careful planning etc, which would not help the industry at all - If we were valued for what we provide - Massivly increased house prices due to good views and recreation space, Health and happiness and a better urban environment, cuts would be focused elsewhere, not least because the public would not tollerate thier parks being neglected.
As usual 'gardening' is the poor relation. Of course parks should be free to use, they are areas given to or provided by the local Council for the use of the public. We pay for them in our Council tax. The Public sector has been massively over-funded for many, many years, but too much money has been put into ‘back of house’, early retirement and the resulting pension time bomb is eating up a massive chunk of money. Councils have lost their way over the years and think their purpose is to provide employment and not services. Early Morning rant over!
The Parks belong too us all and should be free for all too use and enjoy ,http://4bitnews.com/uk/david-cameron-allow-public-land-privatised-a...
this will not help at all though
worth a read http://www.monbiot.com/2014/06/23/towering-imbroglio/
Its a real shame that the funding has been cut. As has been said many are already just grass, and parks are important - especially with more and more flats being built many do not have a garden to enjoy. The alternative to paying to use them may be more housing as well, doubling the problem!
Some bigger parks put up donation boxes and ask volunteers for help with maintenance, maybe that would work if some are struggling. My guess is most people would be happy to pay a small fee over losing a park altogether!