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Giant's Causeway parking 'rip-off' say politicians Giant's Causeway parking 'rip-off' say politicians
(34 minutes later)
The National Trust has been criticised over the price it is charging for parking at the Giant's Causeway. Politicians have accused the National Trust of "ripping-off" the public over the prices it is charging for car parking at the Giant's Causeway.
It is preparing to celebrate the first anniversary of its new visitors centre, but politicians have accused the trust of "ripping-off" the public at Northern Ireland's premier tourist attraction. Before the trust's new visitors centre opened last year, it cost about £6 to use the main car park at Northern Ireland's premier tourist attraction.
Before the centre was built, it cost about £6 to park in the main car park. But an entry fee for the centre has since been included in parking costs.
But the trust has since included the price of visiting its new centre in the cost of parking at the beauty spot. Visitors going by car to the beauty spot are now charged £8.50 per adult, whether or not they visit the centre.
It means that visitors travelling by car to see the causeway stones are being charged £8.50 per adult, whether or not they want to visit the new centre.
'Fleecing the public''Fleecing the public'
Under the current prices, the cost of parking a car with five adults in the main car park at the causeway is £42.50. A family ticket costs £21. Under the current prices, the cost of parking a car with five adults in the main car park at the Giant's Causeway is £42.50. A family ticket costs £21.
DUP MLA for North Antrim Mervyn Storey said: " I think it is driving local people away. They (the public) do not want to be having exorbitant charges per person to park their cars to go and see a natural beauty that we should all be proud of, and should not be a means of fleecing the public to facilitate any organisation. " DUP MLA for North Antrim Mervyn Storey said: "I think it is driving local people away. They (the public) do not want to be having exorbitant charges per person to park their cars to go and see a natural beauty that we should all be proud of, and should not be a means of fleecing the public to facilitate any organisation."
Ballymena SDLP councillor Declan O'Loan recently brought a party of eight, travelling in two cars, to the causeway. He faced a demand for £55 to park the two vehicles as his group did not want to visit the centre on that occasion.Ballymena SDLP councillor Declan O'Loan recently brought a party of eight, travelling in two cars, to the causeway. He faced a demand for £55 to park the two vehicles as his group did not want to visit the centre on that occasion.
He said: " If seems to me that was a very steep charge. I very cheerfully wanted to pay for the car parking and was very happy to do that".He said: " If seems to me that was a very steep charge. I very cheerfully wanted to pay for the car parking and was very happy to do that".
But he was told he could not pay for parking only. After a conversation with an attendant, he left without paying anything.But he was told he could not pay for parking only. After a conversation with an attendant, he left without paying anything.
Mr O' Loan says there should be a separate charge for car parking for those who do not wish to visit the centre.Mr O' Loan says there should be a separate charge for car parking for those who do not wish to visit the centre.
'Positive feedback''Positive feedback'
"To me, it does seem like sharp practice. There should not be issues of people having to attempt to park off site," he said."To me, it does seem like sharp practice. There should not be issues of people having to attempt to park off site," he said.
But the National Trust defended its actions. It said it had welcomed more than 440,000 visitors to the new Giant's Causeway visitor centre since it opened.But the National Trust defended its actions. It said it had welcomed more than 440,000 visitors to the new Giant's Causeway visitor centre since it opened.
In a statement it said: "We have been pleased with the positive feedback from our visitors, with comment cards at the centre recording hundreds of comments in April, of which 98.7% were positive. " In a statement it said: "We have been pleased with the positive feedback from our visitors, with comment cards at the centre recording hundreds of comments in April, of which 98.7% were positive."
The Giant's Causeway interpretative centre cost a total of £18.5m. On the trust's website, visitors are advised that if they arrive at the causeway by public transport, bicycle or on foot, they can save up to £1.50 per adult on admission charges.
The Giant's Causeway interpretative centre, which opened to the public last July, cost a total of £18.5m.
The National Trust provided £6.25m, the Department of Enterprise Trade & Investment, through the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, paid £9.25m, of which £6.13m came from the EU.The National Trust provided £6.25m, the Department of Enterprise Trade & Investment, through the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, paid £9.25m, of which £6.13m came from the EU.
The Heritage Lottery Fund paid £3m towards the building.The Heritage Lottery Fund paid £3m towards the building.
National Trust members can park and enter the visitors' centre free.National Trust members can park and enter the visitors' centre free.