Fury at the arrival of parking meters in the previously free to enjoy Faskally Forest

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Pitlochry residents are saddened and angry that cars are now being charged to park at Faskally Forest.Many have now vowed to boycott pay and display rules introduced by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS).The popular walking place about a mile-and-a-half from Pitlochry town centre is one of numerous FLS sites which from Monday started new parking charges.The government body FLS has introduced signs and parking meter machines in the Perthshire beauty spot – the site of the Enchanted Forest.The charge was introduced from Monday, April 24.

It now costs £1 to park for an hour, £3 for the day and £10 for a minibus where before it was free.A group, Friends of Faskally Forest Parking Charge Protest, was formed in November when plans to put a price on all FLS-managed woodlands were made public.Due to one-in-three of Pitlochry’s 3000 population being over 60, the idea of a daily walk in the woods, a rare route on the flat, suddenly costing came as a huge shock.An online petition to ask FLS to reconsider charges at Faskally gathered 1000 signatures.Retired PHS teacher Susan Boyd (62), spokesperson for Friends of Faskally Forest Parking Charge Protest, said: “On Tuesday the meters were switched on, but they cannot take cash at the moment.

You have to use Ringo which incurs and additional charge and obviously is not available to elderly people who may not have apps or smartphones.“This is just the beginning, not the end,” she vowed. “We are hoping to have a further meeting with FLS, our new community council, and John Swinney next month.“There are still a lot of unanswered questions.”Susan pointed out that at a time when the cost of living crisis is biting and the population is still recovering from the pandemic, the charge is “very