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AIBU?

to think one days parking at West wittering beach for 17.50 is outrageous

24 replies

BBQSteak · 31/07/2014 08:33

This must be the most expensive uk beach to park at in the country
plus traffic is horrendous there

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pootlebug · 31/07/2014 08:35

If the traffic is horrendous it suggests that many people are willing to pay the £17.50....

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BBQSteak · 31/07/2014 08:36

Yes there are because its the only sandy beach In the area

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2rebecca · 31/07/2014 08:45

I went there once windsurfing. I suppose if you're carrying windsurfing kit you have to park nearby but otherwise you have the option of parking elsewhere and walking. If it's going to council funds for education etc then I don't mind parking charges, if you think it's too expensive you park elsewhere. It isn't clear who owns the carpark on their website and their charges look designed to encourage people to just come for a few hours not hang around all day so more people can use the facility.
They don't allow non "local" windsurfers in summer now either so I presume it's seriously oversubscribed as a beach and they're trying to keep it for locals and people who just come for a few hours.

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IHeartKingThistle · 31/07/2014 08:48

The whole of Surrey goes to that beach. I can't imagine they have any trouble filling the car park even at that price.

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GoEasyPudding · 31/07/2014 08:53

Has that gone up?
I'm sure it wasn't that much when I went 2 years ago.
Is the price higher in high season?

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manchestermummy · 31/07/2014 09:02

Keeping a beach for locals?!? I don't think that's on at all.

But YANBU that parking charge is ridiculous. I felt hard done by paying 5 for 4 hours in Devon: I feel lucky now!

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BBQSteak · 31/07/2014 09:06

yes its gne up since easter it used to be 8.50 a day, so has doubled

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DownByTheRiverside · 31/07/2014 09:06

Sliding scale of prices, so you can choose.
www.westwitteringbeach.co.uk/parking.html

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flipchart · 31/07/2014 09:13

Actually looking at the sliding charges I don't think the prices are bad. It's goin to cost £17.50 if you are there from the crack of dawn until the gates shut. How many are going to do that. And if they did its not bad a full day out!

You headline was misleading.

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ElasticBandBall · 31/07/2014 09:17

I went on Sunday, it was 8. the rest of the day was free. For a full day out I don't think that's bad.

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DownByTheRiverside · 31/07/2014 09:20

I do like to check the facts. It's a weakness of mine.

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RiverTam · 31/07/2014 09:23

agree with flipchart, misleading headline. Most people will pay far less than that.

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PhoebeMcPeePee · 31/07/2014 09:24

Wow that's absurd & so glad I changed my mind about WW & opted for camber yesterday as I didn't have to pay for parking Grin

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mummytime · 31/07/2014 09:27

Well looking at those prices the max is £8 at weekends, they don't come around to collect extra money if you stay after 3 or 5. Actually post 5 is pretty cheap, and you often see people settling in for the evening.

They must have had a bad year last year, and they do keep the place nice.

We first went when we lived in Oxford.

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beccajoh · 31/07/2014 09:36

There are other sandy beaches along that stretch of coast. Littlehampton and (I think) Bognor, although I suspect these beaches aren't considered to be as naice as WW.

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TeenAndTween · 31/07/2014 09:39

I believe that West Wittering beach is privately owned by the houses along the beach front. This was to stop development that someone (the council?) wanted to do. I understand that the charges are to defray the costs to the owners of having kept it undeveloped so people can still use/enjoy it.

(I may be wrong, this is what I have been told during a helicopter ride around the area recently).

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ElasticBandBall · 31/07/2014 09:44

Bognor isn't sandy I don't think.

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beccajoh · 31/07/2014 09:53

No it isn't, I just had a look. There's other beaches along the coast that are a mixture of sand and shingle.

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ElBandito · 31/07/2014 09:56

They charge based on what time you get there, not how long you stay. YABU and incorrect.

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MissPenelopeLumawoo · 31/07/2014 11:15

I think we paid about £5 a few years ago. We got there as soon as it opened, were one of the first cars in. We stayed a few hours, then left once the beach got really crowded. They were queuing right down the road to get in when we left, it is a popular beach. We headed on over to Fishbourne Roman Palace afterwards, really interesting and much less crowded. We generally avoid crowds if possible.

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mummytime · 31/07/2014 12:00

Miss Penelope - its free on Christmas Day - and far less crowded. I'd be tempted to go, but we're pretty busy that day.

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LapsedTwentysomething · 31/07/2014 12:47

Well that sounds bonkers to me but I live on Wales where there are no end of lovely beaches within a two hour drive (brag!) I was Hmm Shock at the charge if £3.50 for a full days parking at Llangrannog last week though Grin

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arwen110578 · 31/07/2014 12:52

It's not £17.50. You only pay the once when you arrive. If you arrive at peak time it's the £8. If you arrive after peak time the cost is less and is staggered the later in the day you arrive. You don't add up all the prices for the whole day.
A lot of us locals go later in the day to pay the lower costs!

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AuntieStella · 31/07/2014 13:07

I found the table mildly confusing, as it's not clear if you need to buy subsequent tickets if you straddle the time brackets.

If however it is £x from arrival (by time bracket) until it closes (ie the price reduces in two steps as the day wears on) then it's not that bad and maximum cost is £8 (for high season weekend day).

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