Plans for making Panshanger Park a sustainable country park and nature reserve for the future are taking shape, the park’s management team has revealed.
Some of the first improvements to be implemented will include a parking charge and access infrastructure for Thieves Lane car park, including new gates and entrance signs. The move follows a recent announcement by landowners Tarmac to seek planning permission for a new, chargeable car park on the west side of the park.
From this summer, Thieves Lane car park will be staffed seven days a week by two parking attendants, who will also be on hand with information about the park and to help ensure the car park operates safely.
The park itself will be given a facelift, with the installation of new interpretation boards to provide visitors with information about the park’s history and wildlife. In addition, the boards will feature a map to guide people around the park.
Michael Charlton, estates manager at Panshanger Park, said: “The parking charge is being introduced to help support the sustainability and management of the park. The money raised from the car park will be reinvested into the park to help fund our long-term improvement plans.
“However, we’re conscious that this may result in people trying to avoid the charges and parking outside of the park, which we know is already an area of concern for residents. To try to avoid this we’re making enquiries with the relevant local atuthority to see what parking restrictions could be implemented outside the park. We’ll also be making Herts Police aware about our intentions for Thieves Lane car park.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors to Panshanger Park are advised to adhere to local and national restrictions and only visit the park if permitted to do so. Under national lockdown regulations, people should not travel outside of their local area for exercise.
Visitors to the park are also reminded to be considerate of local residents and only park where it is safe to do so.
