Parking System Changes

Our new system will be live from Thursday 4th May 2023. Find our more in our car park FAQs.

The car parking system is changing at Abbotsford after the contract with their current car park management provider is ended.

Modest parking charges were introduced at Abbotsford in April 2022 after lockdown increased the popularity of the woodland and riverside walks, leading to a 400% rise in the number of visits by walkers and families enjoying free access to the estate.

Charges contribute toward the cost of maintaining Abbotsford’s free paths and facilities. As well as helping allow the charity to recover financially from the pandemic and improve the services they provide, such as expanding the car park, in the future.

However, Abbotsford has now ended the contract with their current parking provider after deciding the company does not align with the charity’s values. The car park will no longer be managed by the current parking provider from Sunday 26th February 2023.

Car parking charges will remain in place after that date but the car park, all charges and fines will be managed by The Abbotsford Trust independently. Friends of Abbotsford members will still receive free parking and will be contacted about the change shortly.

Giles Ingram, Chief Executive at Abbotsford said: “We apologise to anyone who has had any issues with our current parking system which we know has been unpopular with many in our local community. We value the support of our regular visitors and neighbours and have come to the decision to end our relationship with our current provider after listening to their concerns.

The change will also include a new ticket machine, which has been tested with a broad range of age groups, so that it will be as simple to operate as possible.

If you have a query with an existing penalty notice received after parking at Abbotsford, please get in touch with us before Friday 24th February at enquiries@scottsabbotsford.co.uk so we can investigate it for you. After that date we will have no access to our current provider's system and all appeals must go through the procedure outlined on the penalty notice letter.”