Hundreds gather at Lord Bathurst's estate to protest at first entry fees in 300 years
- last month
Hundreds of protestors have gathered for a mass trespass demonstration after a historic park introduced entry fees for the first time in 326 years.
Cirencester Park in Gloucestershire has been owned by the Bathurst family since 1695 and has always been free for the public to enter.
But Lord Bathurst - a close friend of King Charles who lives nearby in Tetbury - claims he now needs to introduce charges to pay for the upkeep of the 3,000-acre estate.
Electric gates have been installed on the four main entry points requiring a pass to enter or a fee of £4 a day. Regular visitors can pay £30 for an annual pass.
Access will be free to anyone living in the local GL7 postcode but a £10 deposit will be charged for the entry card.
The plans have angered many local residents, who have enjoyed unrestricted access to the open space around the town for generations.
On Sunday (March 17) hundreds of protesters gathered on the estate grounds for a "right to roam" march to force the family to reverse this decision.
Catherine Forrester, 37, and Tom Jones, 41, moved to Stroud, Gloucestershire, seven years ago and have been coming to the park ever since.
They have visited the park with their four-year-old son, Rowan, since he was a baby and the protest was the first time their daughter Rosa, 10 weeks old, visited the park.
Catherine, who runs an organisation offering peer support for mothers, said: "We're down here because we feel the park should be free for everyone.
"I love being in the open space, it is very close to the open-air swimming pool - it is a lovely place to come after a swim."
Tom, who is unemployed, added: "They have owned the park for hundreds of years and promised people access to it.
"They spend a lot of money on the park and I think they don't see investment in a park for people to enjoy being worth spending money on.
"As taxpayers, we offer many generous grants to land owners to support their land.
"It is not that we're not paying for the upkeep of the park already, we're just doing it differently."
Spike Collett, 69, an animal rights activist has lived in Cirencester his whole life, accused the aristocrat owners of 'money grabbing'.
He said: "It is all money grabbing, why should anyone have to pay to get in here?
"I have lived here all my life, I have been coming here all my life.
"There are a lot of people upset about it.
"People will come to the town to spend their money but they might no longer come if they have to pay to enter the park.
"My message to the owners is - get a life."
A resident who would only give his name as Terrence, 73, said charging for access is an "insult" to locals.
The former government worker said: "I have lived here my whole life.
"We have been able to walk through this park all those years.
"It is costly for pensioner people who need to get out for mental health reasons.
"The family have always granted access since the park was established back in 1685 to have that withdrawn is an insult to the town folk.
"We have supported the family over the years but this is a slap in the face to the town.
"It isn't just the town, it is the visitors too - now if they want to come out it is at least £50 minimum."
The scheme was due to go live on Friday (March 15) but was postponed because of delivery issues with the passes.
Last Wednesday (March 13) a public meeting was hosted in Cirencester Ashcroft Church regarding the proposed changes.
Bathurst Estate representatives were invited to join the panel at this meeting but decided to send the organiser a written statement instead.
The statement said: "We do not receive any public funding for Cirencester Park.
"The fee for visitors from further afield will contribute in part to the protection of the natural capital and wildlife within this unique parkland now and for future generations to enjoy, along with the maintenance and upkeep of the visitor facilities.
"We understand the importance of, and many benefits of, being able to enjoy the natural environment and the countryside.
"The access passes relate to the section of parkland around Cecily Hill, Windsor Walk, Queen Anne’s Monument and Pope’s Seat.
"Over recent years we have introduced additional permissive walks through Hailey Wood.
"These walks, in addition to the woodlands in the Sapperton Valley to the west of the estate continue to be accessible without a pass, therefore still include many miles to roam.
"We are unable to answer questions this evening but would be more than happy to take questions back to the estate team and respond accordingly."
Cirencester Park in Gloucestershire has been owned by the Bathurst family since 1695 and has always been free for the public to enter.
But Lord Bathurst - a close friend of King Charles who lives nearby in Tetbury - claims he now needs to introduce charges to pay for the upkeep of the 3,000-acre estate.
Electric gates have been installed on the four main entry points requiring a pass to enter or a fee of £4 a day. Regular visitors can pay £30 for an annual pass.
Access will be free to anyone living in the local GL7 postcode but a £10 deposit will be charged for the entry card.
The plans have angered many local residents, who have enjoyed unrestricted access to the open space around the town for generations.
On Sunday (March 17) hundreds of protesters gathered on the estate grounds for a "right to roam" march to force the family to reverse this decision.
Catherine Forrester, 37, and Tom Jones, 41, moved to Stroud, Gloucestershire, seven years ago and have been coming to the park ever since.
They have visited the park with their four-year-old son, Rowan, since he was a baby and the protest was the first time their daughter Rosa, 10 weeks old, visited the park.
Catherine, who runs an organisation offering peer support for mothers, said: "We're down here because we feel the park should be free for everyone.
"I love being in the open space, it is very close to the open-air swimming pool - it is a lovely place to come after a swim."
Tom, who is unemployed, added: "They have owned the park for hundreds of years and promised people access to it.
"They spend a lot of money on the park and I think they don't see investment in a park for people to enjoy being worth spending money on.
"As taxpayers, we offer many generous grants to land owners to support their land.
"It is not that we're not paying for the upkeep of the park already, we're just doing it differently."
Spike Collett, 69, an animal rights activist has lived in Cirencester his whole life, accused the aristocrat owners of 'money grabbing'.
He said: "It is all money grabbing, why should anyone have to pay to get in here?
"I have lived here all my life, I have been coming here all my life.
"There are a lot of people upset about it.
"People will come to the town to spend their money but they might no longer come if they have to pay to enter the park.
"My message to the owners is - get a life."
A resident who would only give his name as Terrence, 73, said charging for access is an "insult" to locals.
The former government worker said: "I have lived here my whole life.
"We have been able to walk through this park all those years.
"It is costly for pensioner people who need to get out for mental health reasons.
"The family have always granted access since the park was established back in 1685 to have that withdrawn is an insult to the town folk.
"We have supported the family over the years but this is a slap in the face to the town.
"It isn't just the town, it is the visitors too - now if they want to come out it is at least £50 minimum."
The scheme was due to go live on Friday (March 15) but was postponed because of delivery issues with the passes.
Last Wednesday (March 13) a public meeting was hosted in Cirencester Ashcroft Church regarding the proposed changes.
Bathurst Estate representatives were invited to join the panel at this meeting but decided to send the organiser a written statement instead.
The statement said: "We do not receive any public funding for Cirencester Park.
"The fee for visitors from further afield will contribute in part to the protection of the natural capital and wildlife within this unique parkland now and for future generations to enjoy, along with the maintenance and upkeep of the visitor facilities.
"We understand the importance of, and many benefits of, being able to enjoy the natural environment and the countryside.
"The access passes relate to the section of parkland around Cecily Hill, Windsor Walk, Queen Anne’s Monument and Pope’s Seat.
"Over recent years we have introduced additional permissive walks through Hailey Wood.
"These walks, in addition to the woodlands in the Sapperton Valley to the west of the estate continue to be accessible without a pass, therefore still include many miles to roam.
"We are unable to answer questions this evening but would be more than happy to take questions back to the estate team and respond accordingly."