Dartmoor parking charges introduced after honesty box scheme fails

All five Dartmoor National Park car parks have now introduced charges for the first time after the failure of an honesty scheme.

Until now, the car parks have always been free with suggested donations and an accompanying honesty box.

Dartmoor National Park Authority officers were told formal charges would bring in up to five-and-a-half times the amount that drivers currently leave in donations.

This decision comes after a cut in Government funding for national parks.

The amount of money the Government gives in grants has fallen by 40 per cent over the past seven years, meaning the maintenance of car parks is a financial challenge.

The new parking charges came in to force Monday, 4 June in the lower and upper car parks at Haytor, Postbridge, Meldon and Newbridge.