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Wrekin Parking

Parking fees help to fund the conservation of Shropshire nature reserves.

The Wrekin Forest Glen car park: 

If you have concerns and/or think you have been issued a PCN incorrectly, Hozah and Workflow Dynamics can advise you. Please contact  info@hozah.com or call 03444 127 929 and be ready with your car registration and dates/times of using the car park.

Please note:

  • Car parking fees are payable 24 hours a day / 7 days a week at the rates stated below and on site.
  • Should power to the site fail, fees are still payable at the machine (battery powered back up) or online as stated below/on signs in the car park.

How do I pay for parking & can I pay cash?

  • Sadly due to resources we’ll be unable to take cash for parking. There is a card-payment machine on site. 
  • Payment by card and online (https://pay.hozah.com/locations/1033) is managed by Hozah via an automatic number plate recognition (APNR) system. 
  • Payment must be made on the same day. 
  • For ease, regular users can save time by setting up Hozah Autopay https://hozah.com/autopay/  This allows a one-time sign-up with your number plate and payment details and charges automatically based on when you enter and leave the car park.

Anti-social behaviour/vandalism

  • CCTV and automatic number plate recognition (APNR) operate at this car park.
  • Damage and break-ins to cars, etc: Please ensure valuables are not kept in cars.  Shropshire Wildlife Trust does not accept any liability for damage, thefts or harm to property or individuals on site.

How much does it cost me to park and why this particular tariff?

  • We’ve compared other car parks across the region from Telford centre, Ironbridge and through to local attractions at Attingham Park and Dudmaston. 
  • Our fees will operate 24 hours a day/7 days a week:
    • Up to 1 hour - £1
    • Up to 2 hours - £2
    • Up to 3 hours - £3
    • Up to 12 hours - £4
  • As a charity, the income will support both the upkeep of this car park and our nature reserves/wildlife spaces across Telford and wider Shropshire, which support the community, local and migratory wildlife and many important environments. 

What if I am late back and have not paid enough fee at the machine?

  • You can re-enter your car registration details and pay any additional fee due.
  • Paying though Hozah Autopay will account for your arrival and leave time and using this option, you would not have to use the pay machine.

What is Hozah Autopay?

  • This option allows users to sign up and the ANPR camera recognises you car details when you enter and leave the car park meaning you do not have to use the pay machine for payment or go online with your car details each time you visit.
  • More details: https://hozah.com/autopay/

Why does Shropshire Wildlife Trust have parking fees here?

  • As a charity we need to identify income streams to fund our charitable work supporting communities, wildlife and the environment. 
  • Parking fees (not the fines) allows us to manage some of the county's and Telford & Wrekin's most popular beauty spots for everyone to enjoy.
  • The Forest Glen/Wrekin car park costs the charity thousands of pounds as we have to re-surface, re-fence, provide drainage, maintain its paths, address any antisocial behaviour, etc. regularly and also pay business rates here.
  • Parking around The Wrekin is at busy periods become dangerous for other vehicles and pedestrians and causes access issues for the emergency services.  In discussion with local land owners and Telford & Wrekin Council, plans help manage visitor flow.
  • We would like to reduce anti-social behaviour taking place in/around the car park (theft, break-ins, damage, etc.). A camera in place will act as a deterrent. 

Can Shropshire Wildlife Trust members receive free parking?

  • Unfortunately not.  HMRC considers car parking a VAT-able member benefit.
  • If a member benefitted from the car park free of charge, we lose Gift Aid on the entire membership income and would need to pay VAT on each individual visit.
  • A number of conservation charities are lobbying for a change of rules or a bespoke arrangement with HMRC to cover this, as the National Trust has nationally. 
  • The funds raised from parking fees and permits go directly towards the conservation of wildlife and the maintenance and management of Shropshire & Telford's nature reserves, plus the upkeep of Forest Glen/Wrekin car park. Your support means we can do even more.

Can users purchase season tickets/permits?

  • Shropshire Wildlife Trust investigated this option and cannot taking permits forward at this time.  This will be kept under review.

Who owns what?

  • The Wrekin’s Forest Glen car park is owned by Shropshire Wildlife Trust.  We also manage the adjacent Ercall nature reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). 
  • The Wrekin is separate and privately owned by a number of private landowners.
  • The bins, highway and verges are owned by Telford & Wrekin Council.
  • The pay-for-parking infrastructure is owned by Hozah.
  • The local Donkey Field is privately owned and planning permission is granted for a 100+ car park to be created there.

Why do Shropshire Wildlife Trust need a parking company and why Hozah?

  • We need to raise funds for our charitable work and for the upkeep of this car park plus our many public open spaces.
  • Hozah came out above other who tendered interest to run the payment facility here.
  • Part of Hozah’s appeal is their on-going approach to minimising fines (PCNs).   All drivers have access to a payment mechanism which is easier, faster and should reduce chances of receiving a PCN and if fined incorrectly, will work to correct the situation.  Please contact them directly if you believe you have been incorrectly fined.
  • Payment of a PCN will go directly to Hozah and not Shropshire Wildlife Trust. You will support us by paying the parking fee due.
  • Hozah meet a number of quality management standards such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) “Level 1” the highest, and most stringent, of the PCI DSS levels. 
  • Hozah are a member of the British Parking Association and the International Parking Community, using an enforcer from the BPA’s Approved Operator Scheme. 
  • They are also Cyber Security Certified and were runners up in the 2020 Ernest Davies Award for Advancing Parking Knowledge as well as Finalists at The Parkex 2019 Innovation Trail Awards using technology that results in, “Truly zero-effort parking.”

Strong company values and solution-led customer innovations like these are essential in our partnerships.

Introducing parking charges will help people's ability to manage their physical & mental health 

  • Shropshire Wildlife Trust manages over 40 nature reserves with most open for the public to enjoy free of charge.
  • Parking fees generated at Forest Glen car park helps us maintain natural spaces for people to exercise and benefit from their natural surroundings.

Plans for introducing electric vehicle (EV) charging

  • We are currently in discussions about introducing EV charging. 
  • When putting in new power cables we ensured these were capable of manging the additional power EV charging requires. 

If you have any comments please email:  enquiries@ShropshireWildlifeTrust.org.uk