PAY and display machines may be installed at Northcott Mouth car park.

The National Trust says the income from the machines will help to support its conservation work.

As a charitable organisation, the National Trust needs to raise money to support conservation work at all of its properties — both built and outdoors. For that reason it plans to introduce car park charging at a number of its main car parks, including Northcott Mouth, which holds 70 car parking spaces and two cycle spaces.

In a supporting statement released with its planning application to Cornwall Council, the National Trust has said the introduction of pay and display machines will: ‘Ensure consistency for our visitors — many other regions in the National Trust already charge and charging is already in place at some of our sites in the region’ and ‘Raise vital funds to support our work — the upkeep of car parks, footpaths and the wider conservation work we undertake to support nature all costs money.’

The National Trust also states that revenue generated through the car park will enable it to support its work areas in North Cornwall such as habitat management, access improvement, maintenance and beach cleaning.

The power source for the pay and display machine is solar, and the material used for the signage post will be made from sustainable timber sourced locally.

While planning permission is not required for the principle of charging at car parks, consent is required, and that is what is being sought, for the pay and display machines and their associated signage.

Bude-Stratton Town Council’s planning committee meeting last Thursday had no objection to the pay and display machines and related signage, but felt that having two machines in a relatively small car park was a little excessive.

The final decision rests with Cornwall Council.