NATURAL TRUST RIP OFF???

Here's an extract from an article in the Amateur Gardening Magazine:

"Furious gardeners have slammed the National Trust for introducing sky high parking charges at Wakenhurst Place Gardens - with some vowing to boycott the popular visitor attraction.
Visitors vented their anger on review site Trip Advisor after Wakenhurst Place Gardends, Kew's country garden in West Sussex introduced a parking charge in April of £2 for the first hour, £5 for two hours or £10 per day for National Trust members, who get free entry in Wakenhurst.
"This has all the makings of a PR disaster" wrote Paul from Surrey, "We have not visited since these draconian parking charges were introduced, nor will we until management see sense. We making more use of Wisley, which feels busier"
Philip from Brighton described the charges as "economic suicide, misguided, and a disaster for Kew"
And Maz from East Grinstead fumed"Greed and stupidity shown by Wakenhurst will be their undoing"
National Trust members represent 80% of visitors to Wakenhurst, which leaves Kew with a deficit of £1.4 million a year. But Anthony from Edenbridge wrote on Trip Advisor "How long will it take for Sir Simon Jenkins [National Trust Chairman] and Marcus Agius [Chair of Kew] to realise what a dreadful, short sighted decision they had made, acknowledge their mistake and remove these charges?"
One reviewer posting under the name of Achowb wrote "There were angry scenes this morning. I feel sorry for Staff who have been put in this position. I've been ripped off by the National Trust but I guess it's drinks all round in the Boardroom."
User Eabir added "We are cancelling our National Trust membership to show how strongly we feel about this"
In a joint statement, Sir Simon Jenkins National Trust Chair, and Marcus Agius, Chair of Kew, said "the net cost to Kew of running Wakenhurst Place is such that we have reached a point where greater income is needed if we are to continue our outstanding horticultural standards." "The best way to raise this income is through car parking charges" they argued.

 

The charges don't seem that bad to me compared to other attractions.

@ARMANDII it would be cheaper to buy a season ticket for £25 then you can park for free for a year

From their website:

 

Let's wait and see what happens to the numbers. I'm sure a bunch of national trust members ranting has them quaking...
I guess they've gambled that parking charges will annoy the NT membership (tick!) and the number of free entrants will diminish; if this is tied into a new marketing drive to get more non-NT visitors then Wakehurst may see an upturn in revenue.
There, business head finished. NT head on now - illegitimate children!

 

I don't really care! I'm a life member but have plenty of other places to visit where I can make use of my membership privileges - or other non-NT properties that are much cheaper.

I suppose I might get more involved and/or upset if it started spreading to other NT properties - or be even more selective. I've certainly had my money's worth from membership so can't complain.

 

Don't quite understand that, I must be misreading it!

Don't you take your picnic with you or go back to the car when you want it?

 

Well, I think it's more about the principle of charging members who have already subscribed
to being a member of the NT where the understanding of the "contract" was a member was privileged, gaining advantages over the casual visitor, and then finding out some privileges have been withdrawn without consultation.,,,,,,,,,,a bit like being a member of a Road Recovery Association and finding the guy coming to rescue you is expecting a £10 surcharge for coming out.
I visit several private gardens of the same, if not higher, historic and gardening level of the National Trust Properties and they do not charge for car parking. Why?, because they know full well that there would be a dramatic drop in visitors and they cannot afford that. They make additional revenue from Tea Rooms, Plant Nurseries, tours, etc. They don't get the benefit of being a nationally reaching organisation regarding income via membership or being able to get grants to run and maintain their properties. I'm beginning to believe that their marketing strategies have become blunted and less free thinking due to the growth of administration within the organisation with more managers than is needed and a consequential loss of touch with the real working staff and the Public. I also don't think it would have got off the ground unless it had been approved by higher powers which leads me to suspect that this is a pilot scheme to see how it prospers and what resistance/reaction it creates. I think the NT needs to rethink ways of gaining extra finances either nationally or locally without putting an extra financial load on paying members.

Do you mean withdraw from the NT and just get a Season ticket for Wakenhurst, or stay as a member paying your subscription as a member and additionally a Season ticket to make parking cheaper by having to visit Wakenhurst enough times to merit the ticket? The first would have the disadvantage of having to pay entrance fees at other NT properties, the second would force you to visit Wakenhurst probably more times than you would like just to make it econical,,,,,,,and what would happen if it is a Pilot Scheme and they bring parking charges for all NT properties, would you have to buy an additional Season ticket for all the properties you want to visit in a year.??


[quote="shiney, post: 829949, member: 1458"]I don't really care! I'm a life member but have plenty of other places to visit where I can make use of my membership privileges - or other non-NT properties that are much cheaper. I suppose I might get more involved and/or upset if it started spreading to other NT properties - or be even more selective. I've certainly had my money's worth from membership so can't complain. [/quote]

I must admit I'm surprised at that first comment, Shiney You're a member of a organisation that you like and value and also have a high level of business/organisational experience and financial expertise and yet you're not worried that this might be a damaging error of business judgement??
As regards your second comment, do you not think that this might be a Pilot Scheme to introduce parking charges nationally to all subscribing members and that could lead to a drop in members and visitors???