Former Mayor Supports South Hill Park Charges

A former mayor of Bracknell has backed South Hill Park Arts Centre's decision to introduce parking charges, saying she wants to see the landmark venue still operating in five years' time.

Councillor Tina McKenzie-Boyle (Conservative, Crowthorne) said the £1 charge for an hour's parking was a small price to pay to help keep the arts centre alive. The fees are the first to be introduced since the centre opened in 1973.

She said she "absolutely" agreed with chief executive Craig Titley-Rawson and praised the trust and its trustees for doing what they could to protect the centre.

"South Hill Park is the jewel in Bracknell Forest's crown," she said. "If it is going to cost a quid to park there while you have lunch, go into the beautiful grounds or whatever activity you may be undertaking, then that's what it's going to cost to keep this place alive. I want to see South Hill Park there in five years' time."

The independent charitable trust says additional income is needed because core funding has fallen by £600,000 a year since 2011 while operating costs have risen by £500,000 annually. Financial pressures have increased since the Covid-19 pandemic with higher utility bills, insurance premiums and other costs.

The trust said it had resisted charges to keep arts access affordable but now believes the income is necessary to "safeguard the centre's long-term future".

Craig Titley-Rawson said previously: "This is not a decision we have taken lightly. As an independent charitable trust, every decision we make is guided by our responsibility to protect and develop South Hill Park for future generations."

Money raised will be kept by South Hill Park Trust and used for charitable work, arts programmes, community activities, maintenance, and the upkeep of the centre's theatres, creative facilities and Grade II listed Georgian mansion.

Under the new charging, the first 30 minutes are free; one hour costs £1, three hours £3, 10 hours £5 and 24 hours £15.

Katie French, Local Democracy Reporter