Access, Friction and Income: Our Car Parks as Frontline Infrastructure

Has it really come to this? Am I actually writing a blog about car parks?

Apparently so. But before I park this idea—pun fully intended—this is Heritage Thinking Differently, considering the role car parks at rural museums and heritage sites play in accessibility, income generation and audience relationships.

If your site has a car park, it’s likely to be either a revenue stream or a key aspect of your visitor access—or, in most instances, both. And as dry as the topic might initially seem, there’s a surprising amount to think about.

Carlton Towers, Yorkshire

Before I start, I should assert my support for walking, cycling and public transport. My focus on car parks does not imply an under appreciation of the need to invest in alternative transport strategies. However, that is not the subject I’m considering here. Nevertheless, it should be acknowledged that many sites are poorly served with alternatives to car transport which impacts on access and the environment.

Car Park Models and Management

For town and city centre sites, dedicated parking is often limited or non-existent. But in rural or edge-of-town settings, historic sites and museums with private car parks are commonplace. Where resources allow, some sites offer free parking as part of their commitment to accessibility and community engagement. However, an increasing number now charge for parking—and, for some sites, particularly those with no entrance fee or limited staff presence, parking fees represent one of their only sources of income.

The systems for managing paid parking vary widely. At the most basic level, it might involve a volunteer collecting cash on arrival—particularly at small or seasonal sites, or where the "car park" is really just a field. Some sites still don’t accept card payments, but this is becoming increasingly rare. Even in these instances, challenges can arise: what happens on quiet days when no one is available to collect fees, or when access needs to be managed through gated entry?

Machines, Apps and Hybrids

Many sites install parking machines—but these come with their own complications. They’re expensive to install and maintain, and a broken or slow machine is rarely a good start to a leisure visit. Machines without card payment options are a growing frustration, especially in rural areas with patchy phone signal. While some units are solar-powered or fitted with signal boosters, these features drive up costs—and funding for parking infrastructure is notoriously hard to secure.

With more visitors having smart phones, parking apps are increasingly popular, especially post-Covid. The shift away from cash has been widely adopted, but apps come with their own problems. Poor connectivity can make them difficult to download or use, particularly in rural locations. For sites that rely on volunteers or part-time staff, monitoring and enforcement with app-based systems is often more time-consuming and technical, than checking physical tickets.

Some parking management companies offer app systems with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), which can speed up enforcement—but they tend to come with higher fees to cover the cost of cameras and software. App providers often charge per transaction, and those charges can quickly add up. A 50–60p operator fee may not seem much, but if your daily parking rate is only a couple of pounds, it’s a significant chunk of revenue. Additional charges may apply for confirmation texts, reminders, or final receipts—often at around 20p per message.

Hybrid systems are common, where machines are paired with app-based payment options. However, in these cases ANPR is often less effective, and a human presence is required to enforce compliance. Parking companies may offer warden services, but their frequency and effectiveness will vary based on your location, your contract—and your fee structure. Without regular enforcement, many visitors will soon conclude that paying is optional.

When Busy Becomes a Burden

At one site I managed, we had a large car park with machines that accepted both cash and card. On busy weekends, traffic management became a major operational headache. There were many occasions when every staff member was tied up in their own essential role, and I found myself—Director of the organisation—out in the car park directing traffic.

It usually required three of us with radios to coordinate safely and efficiently. I was, on paper, a very expensive car park attendant. If your site experiences regular peaks in visitor numbers, you’ll need to factor in the staffing implications. A car park that generates income can quickly become a net loss if it ties up valuable resources to manage.

People or Vehicles?

At the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, they previously operated an ANPR-based system where visitors entered their registration and paid for the duration of their stay before leaving. While functional, the system charged per vehicle, regardless of how many people were in it—effectively penalising solo visitors.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

On my most recent visit, they had switched to a staffed payment system, charging by the number of people in the car rather than the vehicle itself. While this clearly required more staff input, it may generate more revenue on busier days. I’m unsure how it functions midweek, but the shift suggests they’ve considered the trade-off between cost, staffing, and income. It’s worth asking yourself whether there’s a benefit in focusing on visitors rather than vehicles and whether any additional costs are worthwhile.

The Access and Audience Dilemma

Introducing or increasing parking fees can impact your relationships with local users. If your visitors are mostly tourists or one-time guests, there may be little objection. But if your site is popular with local dog walkers, runners, cyclists or social visitors, expect pushback. In some cases, people may park off-site to avoid charges, creating road safety issues or friction with neighbouring residents.

Strong messaging is key here. Be clear about why charges are in place and how they’re used—especially if you’re a charity. Consider local loyalty schemes. A reduced rate for those living within a defined postcode area can help, or an annual pass option for frequent visitors. I’ve offered both in the past with some success, though I was never able to fully prevent off-site parking.

There’s also a commercial consideration. Many of these local users will be regular café customers. Alienating them isn’t without consequence.

The Gate Question

Another common issue relates to locking the gates at the end of the day. While automatic gate systems are ideal, they’re costly and not always viable. Where a manual locking system is in place, visitors are usually warned that the car park will be closed at a certain time.

Kearsney Abbey, Dover, Kent

This can be problematic. Charging a release fee for a locked-in car might recover some costs, but the situation often results in difficult conversations. Staff can be left dealing with agitated visitors who see the organisation as responsible for their predicament. Aside from the reputational risk, we have a duty of care to our staff—no one should be put in the position of handling a confrontation alone.

There are also practical concerns: how long should a locked-in driver wait, how should they summon help, and what might they do while waiting? I’ve known instances where visitors took matters into their own hands—sometimes resulting in criminal damage.

Restrictive gate policies can also deter evening visitors. In summer months, many families or cyclists want to use our spaces later in the day. If they know the car park closes before they’re ready to leave, they’ll likely go elsewhere—taking their café spend with them.

Open Access and Security

Some sites use directional flow plates (sometimes called ‘Alligator Teeth’) to allow vehicles to exit freely but not enter. However, these systems can be tampered with and may require supplementary security measures. If there’s a risk of anti-social behaviour or criminal damage, CCTV and reinforced bollards might be necessary.

This raises another question: is it better to invest in stronger site security, or in physical barriers to prevent access? Sometimes, investing in protection for the collection or buildings may do more to mitigate risk than restricting the car park.

Final Thoughts

Your car park should be an asset—not a source of conflict. It should offer convenience and simplicity to your visitors, while ideally contributing to your site’s financial sustainability. But all too often, it becomes a flashpoint for frustration.

Visitors who’ve travelled long distances may be tired, distracted, or managing excitable children. They’re not always in the best frame of mind to wrestle with unfamiliar machines or confusing signage. We should do everything possible to make this part of the visit easy and stress-free.

At the same time, we must consider the needs of our local users and wider community. Introducing fees, locking gates or tightening access can all have consequences—for relationships, reputation, and revenue. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. But a well-thought-through approach to car park management can help you balance income, access and security.

If this blog has done anything, I hope it’s helped highlight the complexity of a space we often take for granted. In truth, your car park says a lot about your values—and it plays a bigger role in your visitor experience than we sometimes care to admit.

Paul Baker