Forum Topic

Car Park Charges to Rise in Gunnersbury Park

Be prepared to pay more, much more in some cases. The cheap trial period is over folks.http://www.ealingtoday.co.uk/default.asp?section=community&link=http://neighbournet.com/server/common/congunnsprk146.htm

Peter King ● 1403d28 Comments

That should put paid to Cricket in the Park then.  Games last anything up to 7 hours on a weekend. Can't think of any free parking in the vicinity?So 3 pitches at about £1000 per weekend over 20 weeks? About £20K.  Time to think again.

Derek Hill ● 1403d

Parking In residential roads is usually free on Sunday.  I have found spaces north of the park

Vivienne Cox ● 1403d

Don't forget the private parking company in charge doesn't make any money from the parking charge....ONLY fines.Since they use CCTV to note entry and exit times, drivers need to be very careful if planning to leave within the 30 mins free period. Getting caught in traffic on a busy day, and being a minute over passing the camera, will no doubt get you a ticket!

Nick Jenkins ● 1403d

What about car sharing?  We always used to do that.  Can't you organise some central 'home' for kit so that it doesn't all have to be lugged about each time there is practice or a match.  Nobody ever used to have as many cars as they have now.  In fact the number of car owners is reducing.

Philippa Bond ● 1402d

Car sharing is obviously one option but for Clubs using the Park as a "Home" fixture most will come by themselves and probably in cars. But who will want to pay £7 or £8 a game?As for Sunday being free parking in the streets around then they will potentially ONLY lose £10K on Saturdays.These days people bring their own kit.

Derek Hill ● 1402d

How about walking or cycling. The number of people getting in their cars to go for a walk. Puts palm on forehead and says 'oh boy'55% of people dont own cars in London, they all manage it. Give it a go?

Tony Mansell ● 1402d

Have you tried cycling with a cricket holdall on your back?

Mark Warburton ● 1402d

Mark. You beat me to a reply.I doubt Mr Mansell has ever played Club Cricket otherwise he would know that teams may have to travel considerable distances to get to Away games.  My club can travel to Reading or even further to play League games.  Perhaps he is suggesting they cycle the A4 for 30 miles?

Derek Hill ● 1402d

Minivans or coaches make for good team spirit.  So does car sharing. The size and weight of cricket kit bags is great but I remember sharing the collection of those from school or pitch.

Philippa Bond ● 1402d

I met a group of dog walkers in Chiswick House Grounds recently who said they used to meet up in Gunnersbury Park but now are coming here because they can park for free. Cost was part of an issue but for some of them it was because they found the method of payment a bit tricky and were worried about inadvertently getting a fine. There are likely to be more refugees when the costs go up next year. It may be the mild weather but I detect that the gardens are already much busier during the day in the week than they used to be.

Diane Brown ● 1402d

" but for some of them it was because they found the method of payment a bit tricky and were worried about inadvertently getting a fine. "Indeed. Ageism pure and simple. While still being able to drive, many older people may choose to avoid smartphones altogether both because the type is so small, and the potential financial consequences of making any sort of mistake when using them. Let alone trying to rectify it afterwards. michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1402d

I read today on a website that 90% of adults had smartphones.  I don't believe this!

Philippa Bond ● 1402d

Philippa.I think you are not really aware of how Senior cricket works in reality. How much do you think it would cost to hire a minibus capable of carrying even 8 players plus kit travelliing only 10 miles to and from a game? Car sharing would be an option I grant you but it would still need at least 4 cars for an Away game, maybe 5 or 6 if people were going home to different locations after the game. While Home team players would make their own way to games mostly by car as they would be travelling alone.The point is the Parking charges will inevitably mean some clubs would not be able to justify the costs of parking in the grounds on a weekend. Especially when the games would mostly be for 3rd and 4th teams. It is nothing but pure avarice by whoever is in charge of the Park.

Derek Hill ● 1402d

I wonder what RingGo get as a percentage. Must put the price up.Like most people who have never tried to organise a team sport activity (and school really doesn’t count) Philippa has a rather rose tinted view of how it works.Don’t you ever wonder why you don’t seem to see much in the way of football played in parks on Sunday morning? Why most leagues have folded after 100+ years of successful operation?The hoops to jump through and the costs involved, plus the  lack of decent facilities have all contributed to the decline. But at least they are pumping money into cycling infrastructure to get us all super fit, eh?

Simon Hayes ● 1401d

Thank you Simon but Philippa does not need you to make assumptions on her behalf particularly since you and she do not agree on various issues.  Life has changed over the last 100 years.

Philippa Bond ● 1401d

MIchael, I don't think the aged like to carry smart phones as they wouldbe easily stolen, card payments for parking would be the best option foreveryone.

Janice Evans ● 1401d

Referring to yourself in the third person now? Very odd.One thing that hasn’t changed is running a sports team and ensuring you get all players, kit and equipment to the venue on time. I’m not sure what ‘assumptions’ you think I made, though Phillipa seems perfectly capable of making plenty of her own.So, thank you!

Simon Hayes ● 1401d

" MIchael, I don't think the aged like to carry smart phones as they would be easily stolen,"I certainly qualify as aged and I can't see any reason why anyone should necessarily want to pay shedloads of money so they can carry a smartphone around anywhere to do things they can do so much easier on a much bigger screen on their computer at home.If some people choose to do so, play games or catch up the latest on Britney Spears while on the move then fair enough, But there's no need for any of these things except for real gadget freaks with good eyesight.  While as a mobile phone I personally have a basic Tesco PAYG Nokia which with a £10 card thrown in cost me around £30" card payments for parking would be the best option foreveryone."Indeed. Its a fair assumption that most people with cars will also have a credit or debit card. Pre-paid cards paid for with cash in the Museum might be another option, but that of course would cost more money to implement michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1401d

I got what I thought was quite a good deal on a fairly basic smartphone recently (I did have a fairly basic iPhone that was a couple of years old, had been dropped several times and when it got really wet that was it).Before getting the new phone, I too had a cheap Nokia, ok for making phone calls, texting on it was was a pain.What I missed though was the ability to find out things like opening times, or make alternative plans once out and about.Another thing I found difficult was trying to park in TGT and I totally agree that you should be able to sort out parking without needing a phone.I probably could have just about parked in TGT with my basic phone, but it seemed to be so uphill, I rang my partner and asked her to set up a parking session for me!

Andrew Jones ● 1401d

Ok so beware, they're now introduced rules regarding the the first 30 min is free. When busy, it can be extremely difficult to pick and drop off within 5 mins sometimes given the layout/entrance configuration. This is a license for tickets to be issued by the camera if it takes you 6+ mins to drop/pick up. It should be 30 min without registration as they originally implied. New rules below:Up to 5 minutes FREE You do not need to register on the App or the machine For drop off/pick ups where you are not planning on parkingUp to 30 minutes FREE You will need to register for your free 30 minutes on the App or the machine. For quick visits when your car will need to be parkedhttps://www.visitgunnersbury.org/plan-your-visit/admission-information/car-parking-charges/

Nick Jenkins ● 1388d

Just looking at the rules you are also not allowed to return to pick up using the app for two hours from your drop off. You can try to be in and out in 5 minutes but alot of people doing this would be facilitating the visit of an elderly or disabled person so that is just not possible.It is not a surprise that a company paid exclusively on fine revenue has created a series of complex non-intuitive rules which are going to catch a lot of people out.

Mark Evans ● 1388d

Exactly right Mark. I have suggested on Twitter to Gunnersbury Park they need to look at this again!

Nick Jenkins ● 1388d

ME: " You can try to be in and out in 5 minutes but alot of people doing this would be facilitating the visit of an elderly or disabled person so that is just not possible."RC: Somewhat mitigated by this, for disabled at least?"Blue badge holders will continue to be able to park in the disabled car park by the museum and in the main car park for no charge."

Richard Cathcart ● 1388d

Though on reflection, maybe they could extend the grace period to 10 minutes?

Richard Cathcart ● 1388d

Richard, not all disabled or elderly people have blue badges. If they do there is blue badge parking provided in the smaller car park in front of the museum.The likely problem with the perfectly reasonable suggestion you make is the the park's management have signed a contract with Gemini Parking who would want compensating for any change that reduces their revenue.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1388d

JP: "Richard, not all disabled or elderly people have blue badges. If they do there is blue badge parking provided in the smaller car park in front of the museum."RC: BB holders may also park in the Main Car Park withiut charge as well, I think, but I take your general point.Anyhow cannot people dropping off passengers who find themselves delayed beyond the (ticketless) 5 minutes not proceed instead to take a ticket and avail of the first 30 minute free concession? Or have I got that wrong?JP: "The likely problem with the perfectly reasonable suggestion you make is the the park's management have signed a contract with Gemini Parking who would want compensating for any change that reduces their revenue."RC: Good point, I hadn't considered that.

Richard Cathcart ● 1388d

New charges (and new parking app) and potential "time period traps" start today....beware!

Nick Jenkins ● 1356d

Those in charge have decided we need 12 videos on how to park in the car park!https://www.youtube.com/@gunnersburyparkmuseum4399

Nick Jenkins ● 1355d