I have received the following information about Riddlesdown Common Car Park:
Parking Charges are to be introduced during January 2021. Eagle-eyed users of the space had already noticed the machines being installed last week.
The fee is to be £1.50 for up to a 2 hour stay, or £3 for the entire day (with unlimited returns through the day). Monthly and annual season tickets will also be available through the Ringo app. The ticket machines will allow visitors who do not have the Ringo app to pay using a credit or debit card. I don't believe that a cash payment will be possible but I am checking this. I also believe that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology will be in place so it won't be possible to avoid paying.
Network Rail are continuing their essential work around the tunnel entrance to secure the chalk cliff face. It’s likely they will need to occupy the bays at the back of the car park until March. However they are not allowed to use the other parking bays for their vehicles so this is being closely monitored and enforced by the ranger team. Rangers are also aware that visitors have started parking on the car park banks so some fencing and signage will be installed to prevent this.
I expect that once charges are in place that less people will enter the car park and I would ask that visitors continue to be respectful to neighbours if parking on nearby streets.
