Parking charges introduced at Grassholme Reservoir

PARKING charges have been introduced at a Teesdale reservoir popular with walkers and anglers.
People must now pay £3.50 to park for four hours at Grassholme Reservior, which is operated by Northumbrian Water. Peter White, from Herrington near Sunderland, is a regular at the site and has raised concerns about the new charges. Mr White said: “I live in a city so I am often up that area. I sit and look at the views from the car. I can’t get out to go fishing.
“If you go to Tesco or Asda where you are a customer, they don’t charge you to park.
“Everyone is a customer of Northumbrian Water and here they are charging us to park in their facilities that are already paid for through our water bills.
“I have never had to pay in a Northumbrian Water car park. There were no charges. I have contacted them and they said it is getting expensive to operate the toilets.”
Mr White is a disabled blue badge holder and believes that it is unclear to people like him whether they are excluded from the new tariff. He said: “I have got a disabled badge and at some places you get free parking. As far as I am aware no private landholder has to exempt disabled badge holders. Until they get the signs corrected people are going to pay or drive off and lose their benefit.”
Northumbrian Water has confirmed that blue badge holders are exempt from the new rules. Anglers who pay for a day permit to fish on the waters don’t need to pay to park either.
A spokesperson said: “We have introduced a nominal charge on our regional Waterside Parks at Fontburn, Derwent, Grassholme and Scaling Dam which all attract a range of visitors. These charges are comparable to similar tourist attractions in the area.  
“The income from our car parks contributes towards the continuing improvements of our waterside parks and facilities across the region for the enjoyment of our visitors.”
Set in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the site offers a variety of fishing and has its own fish farm.
There is also a picnic area for visitors. Two hours’ parking costs £1.50, four hours costs £3.50, six hours costs £5 and 12 hours costs £10.
The tickets can be used at any other Northumbrian Water car parks in the time frame.