Peak District visitors could face £1 entry fee to 'access incredible landscape'
The Peak District, which stretches across parts of Derbyshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Yorkshire, became the UK's first national park in 1951.
Its rugged moorlands, rolling hills and walking routes like the Pennine Way attract around 20 million visitors each year.
But over the past decade, the Peak District National Authority says it has seen a 50% cut in its core funding.
Just this year, its revenue grant has been slashed by 9%, all while it faces growing pressures, including wildfires, dangerous parking, rising operational costs and visitor demand.
Chief executive Phil Mulligan believes a small visitor charge may be part of the solution.
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'If we had 10p from each visitor, that would more than makeup for the cuts governments are making to our core grant,' he said in a statement to Metro.
'If we were to make it £1 per person, then we would not need any core government grant.'
Unlike UK cities, which can introduce a tourism levy, national parks currently have no powers to charge those who visit.
Mulligan says introducing a fee would require legislative change and government support, and even then, implementing it would bring its own set of challenges.
'I don't think anyone would mind paying that to access the incredible landscapes, natural environment and rich cultural heritage we have on offer, it is more a challenge of how you would collect it,' he explains.
Most visitors to the Peak District only come for a few hours, meaning charging a bed tax or overnight accommodation would miss the majority.
Adding road cameras, like those used for clean air zones or congestion charges, would be 'too expensive' and have a 'visual impact' on the landscape, according to Mulligan.
He adds: 'There would also need to be a mechanism for excluding residents, business travel into the National Park, and those just travelling through the National Park to get somewhere else.'
Despite these hurdles, Mulligan argues that the current funding model is no longer sustainable.
He argues that National Parks are being asked to do more than ever – from boosting mental health and wellbeing to restoring nature and tackling climate change – but they don't have the resources to match. More Trending
Mulligan says: 'The future sustainability and sufficiency of the current funding model is in question so we need to be asking the bigger question of how does the nation want to pay for National Parks to remain here for everyone, forever.'
The idea of a tourist tax isn't new. Cities and protected areas across Europe already charge visitors small daily or overnight fees to help fund maintenance and conservation.
In Venice, tourists are charged a day tax to enter the city during its peak season. In Switzerland and Portugal, hikers pay fees to access certain hiking trails, while Spanish national parks ask for contributions to maintain protected areas.
UK cities have started to introduce similar charges. Edinburgh confirmed it would introduce a 'first of its kind' tourist tax on hotel stays, charging visitors £2 per night. While other local councils across the country have been exploring similar options.
Chatsworth House – a grand stately home in the heart of Derbyshire on the banks of the river Derwent. Monsal Trail – a walking and cycling path along a former railway line, with stunning views of the Derybshire countryside. Mam Tor – known as the 'Shivering Mountain', this seven-mile loop hike is a favourite among hikers. Ladybower Reservoir – a scenic reservoir encircled by hiking trails. Peak Cavern – also known as 'The Devil's Arse', this is one of the UK's largest natural cave entrances, located in Castleton.
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