They're [re]introducing parking charges at the Mill Yard, Staveley. There's apparently a 30 min grace period, but it'll now cost you a tenner to park their ride for longer than a few hours.
(Pic stolen from our cycle club chat.)
Is that all of it? I seem to remember there being different restrictions in different bits.
All of it, as far as I'm aware: Cameras on the way in/out.
Isn't there LOADS of free parking in/around Staveley anyway?
Aye, there are places round and about, but "Staveley [itself] is apparently going to have parking restrictions throughout the village."
They used to have a scheme whereby you could grab a longer parking pass if you were visiting any business there, which I hope they find a way to reintroduce alongside these charges. Stopping for a cheeky coffee and cake at More Bakery or lunch* at Wilf's Café ain't so attractive if it's gonna cost me £3 extra.
*Rarebit with black pudding FTW!
Oh great, now it'll fill up earlier up by the bridge where I usually park as everyone will understandable want to avoid fees.
I don't see 'no overnight parking' though...
I don’t see ‘no overnight parking’ though…
There are plenty of additional signs in the car park specifying no overnight parking. There did used to be a fairly out of the way spot around the side which often had a couple of vans parked up discreetly...
There's been charged parking there for a while but only during the week, you were supposed to get a ticket from one of the businesses to allow longer parking if required.
Shame cos that was always my free parking of choice in the South Lakes.
Fine.
We'll just stop popping in on our way past and invariably buying something and grabbing a bite.
We’ll just stop popping in on our way past and invariably buying something and grabbing a bite.
Likewise. I regularly pop into Wheelbase and to the bakery or the ice cream shop whilst passing. Having to pay for parking adds that touch of inconvenience to make me think "I can't be bothered stopping".
I believe last time they tried the local businesses got it stopped. I appreciate them charging for people there all day but they should be encouraging the passing trade.
It's just the owner of the mill yard getting greedy, loads of parking on the way into staveley in the laybys which is free,just a short road spin to get your legs warmed up. Then stop at wheelbase or for food on your bike on the way back then you don't have to pay the parking fee. Just please don't dump your cars/vans to block entrances or drives as its bad enough already . Still free after 6 so fine for night rides.
Be interested to know if this is also driven by the businesses feeling that a load of mtbers rocking up, spending a token amount on cake from More or Wilfs, and then buggering off for a half-day ride doesn't actually benefit them compared to having parking spaces available for other customers.
How many of the other shops are actually destinations in themselves though?
I reckon that apart from the bakery (which surely must be almost entirely local custom?), the rest of it is pretty dependent on Wheelbase.
Roadies ride to Wilf's a fair bit which doesn't affect parking or other custom in the slightest.
But I've seen loads of MTBers in the Hawkshead Brewery after a ride and if it's expensive parking, I suspect many of them will simply park at another pub somewhere and ride from there instead.
I reckon that apart from the bakery (which surely must be almost entirely local custom?)
As a visitor, the bakery is the only place I'll always spend money. Usually on pies to eat at the end of my ride (and a few more for later in the week).
Something ironic about taking pies back to Wigan 😀
Nearly as bad as the National Trust. They only take cash because they use the card reader part of the machine to scan membership cards. Last time we were in the lakes we went to Wheelbase and did some shopping and on the way home had some lunch at Wilf's won't bother if I have to pay by phone to park.
Sad really.
Be interested to know if this is also driven by the businesses feeling that a load of mtbers rocking up, spending a token amount on cake from More or Wilfs, and then buggering off for a half-day ride doesn’t actually benefit them compared to having parking spaces available for other customers
I suspect very much this. Compared to a few years back there seem a lot more customer facing businesses there now. Doesn't really work for them if the car park's full of mountain bikers who take space all day. though it's surprisingly expensive, and I'm surprised theres not an hour or two free
We have an office in the Mill yard. Where I agree the cost / time will impact the small number of businesses, Parking is historically a nightmare. The car park size cant cope with the volume of businesses on site.
We all have to log our registration plates, along with any accounts / clients visiting. So maybe there will be an option to support actual custom to those that are consumer facing. The cameras were being installed today and go live by end of month.
Thanks for the info, I usually go to more or wilfs when passing. Even during the week it's pretty busy with cars. Low sizergh farm shop just down the road towards kendal does a fab breakfast and you can park for free. Nice cakes to take away too.
I actually use the bus to get around the lakes as a foot passenger.
Wilfs veggie chilli is lovely though.
The sign doesn’t mention 30 mins free / grace. I feel the shops will be hit hard. I won’t be going to More or Wilfs if it’s an extra £3. Lots of other places to eat. One hour free would be a sensible option. Beyond 2 hours is fair game to charge. I give it a few months before a free period is introduced.
Wilfs veggie chilli is lovely though.
Legendary!
We never park there if riding - only to use the businesses. £3 for 1 hour is going to dent trade.
I won’t be stopping there anymore but I suspect plenty will. I just stop when passing by and by a couple of things but it is not worth the hassle of making a payment by phone. Shyster trick
I'm not against parking charges - why not? I'm leaving my car on your property all day. Only been once, met pals and we all drove. 3 spaces we used all day, had a couple drinks in the Brewery and left. Had it have been a tenner (and we knew) we'd have probably parked elsewhere and ridden through for a pint / food, freeing up those spaces for other custom(ers). Or paid up. £10 to ride locally and conveniently park close to facilities? I don't think that's unfair.
I've heard from a reliable source* that this has actually been instigated by BikeTreks Ambleside as part of their four point plan to corner the trade in cafes and drive by bike shoppers heading for the lakes
1) Close the Ambleside shop and open in Ings where everyone can see you as they drive past.
2) Open a cafe at the shop
3) Convince Millyard to start charging for parking to starve Wheelbase and Wilf's of their drive by trade.
4) Get that path on the hill by Ings reclassified as a bridleway to make Ings the logical starting point for the 3 passes route.
Job done.
* Made up entirely, by me, just now. 😝
it is not worth the hassle of making a payment by phone
But it's less hassle?
Park up, pay by phone, get out of car and go about your business.
Or park up, walk to payment machine, get ticket, walk back to car, put ticket in car, go about your business.
Ings the logical starting point for the 3 passes route
Been the logical starting point for me for a while, the millyard car park was often bloody hard work, needs the parking bays putting on a slight angle.
We don't park there to go riding, but we've usually got bikes and camping gear in the car, and often the grand kids with us.
Wheelbase was a good place to buy clothing and shoes, you can actually try stuff on and they have a decent selection.
Plus, it's officially 'on holiday', so buying outdoor kit isn’t really spending real money, like you would at home....🙂
A fiver for three hours isn't too bad really, but there are plenty of other places we can park for free, go gear shopping and grab some nice food.
They’ve gone full on greedy bastard there, bet the retail businesses are fizzing. An hour free would make the long stayers have to make a decision but without penalising shoppers. Just seems counterproductive to me
A shame if the phone payment link got vandalized.
Repeatedly.
A shame if the phone payment link got vandalized.
Repeatedly.
It would be shame if mountain bikers cars got vandalized when they've disappeared for the day thinking they can park for free on private land and there are workers or customers of the businesses unable to park.
There's clearly a shortage of parking here and a need to manage demand for it in some way. Land isn't free, tarmac isn't free, maintaining it isn't free. Why people think parking should be is beyond me (and that goes for the rest of the road system too in my view - should be parking in marked bays only, and chargeable, everywhere)
first world problems eh................
I’ve no problem in principle with paying to park - always felt a bit rude to park all day for a ride TBH, though we always spent a bit in wilfs - but a minimum of 3 quid seems a bit steep.
The thing is, there is no shortage of alternative on-street parking in Staveley, most of it within easy pedalling distance of the Mill Yard for pre or post-ride stuff. I'd be surprised if the landowner has done it without the approval of his tenant businesses.
First hour free or free after five for the Brewery would make more sense though.
Agree with @thecaptain
However, it would help if they waived the fee if you spent more than X quid in one of the local shops with some kind of code on a receipt. Not gonna happen though.
The thing is, there is no shortage of alternative on-street parking in Staveley, most of it within easy pedalling distance of the Mill Yard for pre or post-ride stuff.
I bet there's a new Controlled Parking Zone or double yellows or resident permit system going in alongside the Mill Yard charges, it'd be insane not to have that!
I kind of feel sorry for the residents of Staveley because that industrial estate smack in the middle of it is pretty much the entire source of all the traffic in the narrow village lane.
When I rock up in my 50K T6 to ride my 10K Santa Cruz, I simply can't bear to pay £10 to park for an entire day of fun.
I’ve heard from a reliable source* that this has actually been instigated by BikeTreks Ambleside as part of their four point plan to corner the trade in cafes and drive by bike shoppers heading for the lakes
Funnily enough, I've only been to Wheelbase once. That was because I'd been to BikeTreks and when they didn't have what I wanted they suggested I go to Wheelbase!
I have been told by a friend who works for a company that has offices and a shop on there that they are ‘challenging the guy that owns the mill yard about it’.
Not been implemented yet...
Over many years, I have spent a small fortune in Wheelbase and Wilfs and more recently in the brewery and the bakery and Inov8 because of the free parking at the mill. When coming back from a day in the lakes, it would make a good place to stop off for a drink/food/retail. There is no way I'd be stopping now at that price. I would think those businesses will struggle with the introduction of this charge.
If I wanted to park there all day, and not head futher into the lake district, then a small parking charge would make sense to limit numbers, but it's so expensive that I would carry on driving into the lakes and park somewhere else. Really, all day parking is only useful for people with bikes as the walking is not the most interesting in that area.
I reckon the village is (justifiably) worried that everyone will simply park for free down by The Eagle or on residential streets and ride/walk into The Mill Yard.
If there's going to be a charge there, especially as high as that, there need to be supporting measures locally to stop people parking up just round the corner, churning up the verges and potentially blocking off residential parking, deliveries etc.
Chatting today to riders who live in Staveley, some on street parking has gone residents only with more to follow. Understandable if you live there it'll be a right pain if everyone parks on street. Apparently some businesses in the yard are lobbying the site owner.
Downside is loss of trade to Ings or Ambleside...
Maybe a compromise would be refund of charge if spending over a certain amount - but essentially that means the yard owner gets paid, the shops loose the money.
