Kilbroney Park and Slieve Gullion parking fees come into force

Motorists visiting Kilbroney Park and Slieve Gullion Forest Park will face new parking charges from Monday.

Both sites were previously free to access but now fees are being charged to visitors who drive into the parks.

Households within Newry, Mourne and Down Council can apply for a permit giving them free access to drive into one of four parks in the council area.

But to get a free annual permit they must choose between Kilbroney; Slieve Gullion; Delamont or Castlewellan.

Alternatively, Newry, Mourne and Down Council residents can buy a £25 pass allowing them unlimited access to all four parks.

Non-residents and motorists without permits must pay a daily fee which depends on the size of their vehicle.

It costs £5 per day to park a family car, while coaches incur a £50 fee per visit.

The council, which is currently planning to build a new multi-million-pound HQ and civic centre in Newry, said the money collected will be spent on development and maintenance of the parks.

Residents have expressed mixed views since the new arrangements were announced in February.

An online petition to preserve free access to Kilbroney Park had attracted more than 2,800 signatures at the time of writing.

Among the signatories is Mayobridge resident Bronagh McAtasney who told BBC News NI she was "really annoyed" about the charges.

She fears it could deter visitors from travelling to the parks, to the detriment of public health and local businesses.

"I think we have the right to access public spaces. We know that's good for our mental health, we know that's good for our physical wellbeing," she said.

"The healthier we are in mind and body, the less of a burden we are on other parts of the infrastructure."

Ms McAtasney regularly walks her dogs at Kilbroney in Rostrevor, County Down, but also enjoys visiting Slieve Gullion in County Armagh.

Although entitled to a free permit as a council resident, she rejects the idea of having to choose between beauty spots.

"I think all of us are being deprived the choice of going to other places and exploring other parts of the area that we live in, and it shouldn't be restricted to one permit for one park."

Pedestrians and cyclists can still access the parks for free, but Ms McAtasney argues disabled people, parents with small children and people like her who do not live on a safe walking route to the sites will be disadvantaged by vehicle fees.

Supporters of the new rules say local ratepayers picked up the bill to maintain the parks, while non-resident visitors used the facilities without contributing to their upkeep.

But Ms McAtasney argues out-of-town visitors spend money in local businesses, which in turn supports jobs and helps residents pay those rates.

"Generally, when I go to Kilbroney, I buy a coffee in one of the local cafes. Then I will pick up some food - I'll go into the local shop and buy some provisions on my way home," she said.

She added the council should do more to promote tourism rather than "shooting itself in the foot" with fees that will be "off-putting to people when they can go to other places where parks are free".

But some park users said they accepted the charges, provided their money was ring-fenced for park maintenance.

Mother-of-three Carmel McKinley frequently takes her three-year-old daughter to Slieve Gullion.

"The amazing facilities that we have here in Slieve Gullion, I can see that there needs to be some money put aside to maintain those facilities - the beautiful fairy walk, the massive playpark," she said.

Living a short distance away in Lislea, County Armagh, her family qualifies for a free permit for one park of their choice.

However, Ms McKinley is considering buying the £25 residents' permit instead, so she can drive to all four parks.

"I would use Kilbroney as well. Delamont not so much, but maybe if I has a pass for it I might use it.

"It would make me more likely to go to it, but I wouldn't want to be going much beyond £25."

The permits became available on 4 March and during the first six weeks 7,763 free "one-park" permits were supplied to Newry, Mourne and Down residents.

Another 738 council residents bought discounted "all-park" pass for £25.

Non-residents can still buy a yearly pass, but it will cost them £60 for unlimited access to all four parks.

Permits can be collected in the parks, but to receive their discount council residents must show photographic identification including proof of address.

Figures for individual parks are not available, so it is not clear how many of the free passes went to residents living near Delamont Country Park and Castlewellan Forest Park, where fees were already in place for years.

In February, Rowallane councillor Terry Andrews told a council meeting his constituents "danced with joy" when he explained they could now get a free pass for Delamont.

He said it had been a "bugbear" over the years that "one part of the district was paying, the other part wasn't".

But new charges at Kilbroney and Slieve Gullion have made neighbouring businesses anxious about parking.

"You are never sure how this change will affect people's behaviour," said hotelier Mick Boyle, owner of Killeavy Castle Estate on the edge of Slieve Gullion.

He said the introduction of fees was a "reflection of the popularity of Slieve Gullion forest park" and he recognised "the value that these charges will contribute to the maintenance and improvement of the area".

But he said his first concern was that people may "park unsafely and inappropriately on the roads around the forest park".

"We would also have concerns that visitors may attempt to park at our property instead of at the forest park to avoid the parking charge."

Mr Boyle said should that happen, the hotel would "take appropriate measures in response" and would expect the council's support.