Cosford to charge for parking from August 1st

Just visited the museum today on the way back from a call.

Heaving with people and directed to overflow parking between the Cold War Hall and Hangar 2.

No parking charge today where I ended up, staff effectively used directing traffic to overflow areas.

Well done to the museum for using noggin to get people in and parked rather than maximising on charges.

Ross

I beleive there are tax reasons why it has to be a parking charge rather than an entry charge

Has it been taken over by Ryanair?:D

ROTFL!! 😀

I used to try and visit quite often as it’s not that far away but a £3 per visit charge would soon mount up so I won’t be doing this in the future.

They may see a small drop in numbers but many visitors will still see it as a cheap visit compared to other attractions. This is what the museum is banking on. (I have stood at the entrance desk a number of times when visitors are surprised when they are told it’s free).

One thing is for sure – if they don’t get complaints and don’t see a large drop in numbers they will think it is acceptable to charge.

Interestingly the wording on the museum site says that the Cosford charges will be used to support its’ sites (plural) not just Cosford site.

Just a thought but will these guys now all have to pay to park up?

http://www.midlandsbreakfastclub.co.uk/

The Enthusiast Days have been running at that rate for three or more years now, with a good uptake – albeit numbers have tailed off a bit this year.

A big draw in the early days were the ‘missing airframes’ but now that the Gnat, Chipmunk and Harvard cockpits are no longer in the workshop or store, that aspect has diminished. However the guaranteed 6 aircraft tours still remain a big factor, which makes good use of the museum’s volunteer aircraft openers.

Getting back on topic; at the museum AGM yesterday a couple of members did mention the Cosford car parking fees and one thought for some reason that the fee being considered might be higher than quoted here.

Someone also suggested it might be another ‘good fund raiser’ to be considered! 😮 No!!!!

Good news that the girlfriend’s visited – rather than sitting in the car she could go in just to use the café – as long as she closes her eyes while walking across from the shop! :diablo:

Exactly the sort of thing I was thinking off, but £15 seems a little high. I would aim the tour of Cosford more at the non aviation person who is keen to learn about the aircraft rather than just look and guess what they have seen. I wounder how many vistior to Cosford go home thinking they have seen a Lancaster, not the Lincoln.

Is anybody on the Forum an insider at Cosford ?

Twinotter – Yes she does know what she is missing !!! thats why she stays in the car 🙂 In fairness she has been around the museum a couple of times with me and does enjoy looking, quite often at things which I would normally miss, but I am happy to pop in just because a) the sun it out and b) you have got something new.

…… An idea I have seen in the USA has been to charge for a guided tour, where a small group can be shown around the collection and given a small talk or slide show, not necessarily what us forumites would use but if presented right then it might generate a few quid.

A bit like this! There was one tour yesterday and the next is in August. 😉

Also, your girlfriend doesn’t know what she’s missing at Newark! 🙂

For those who compared this with Hospital parking charges I would like to point out that you are getting it cheap. I believe the current rate at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford is more than double that. Mind you in their case I can almost sympathise with them as they did it to deter people from using it as a park and ride for the bus to London. What I don’t understand is why people would do that when there is a perfectly good park and ride on the outskirts of the city which is now free again but the hospital still charges for parking. I do agree that it’s a bit off that the staff have to pay as well because the dedicated staff parking is within the pay and display car park.

If they have to charge at all then to my mind the admission charge is the way to go at least then you pay to get in and can stay all day with nothing to worry about rather than paying for car parking and having to remember what time you have to go top up the parking ticket..

Although I dont agree with the any of the admission / parking charges at if we have to have one then car parking is the way to go. If they charge £5 all day car parking then thats it sorted. But if they charge person then you will have £5 per adult, then £3 per child and probalby another rate for OAP, disabled, carer, group rates, ect. So the family of four its going to add up, and if dad (the aircraft enthustiast) can’t afford to take the wife and kids he will not go himself and the children will not learn to enjoy aviation. I have often stopped at Cosford as a short detour from the M54 with the girlfriend and she is quite happy follow me around or use the cafe. However there have been times at Newark where she has remained in the car whilst I visited the museum because she was put off by even Newark’s modest entrance fee.

If the museum has to generate more income how about a small additional charge to visit the conservation centre, every day, not just on the odd week or access some otherwise ‘private’ part of the museum. An idea I have seen in the USA has been to charge for a guided tour, where a small group can be shown around the collection and given a small talk or slide show, not necessarily what us forumites would use but if presented right then it might generate a few quid.

If they have to charge at all then to my mind the admission charge is the way to go at least then you pay to get in and can stay all day with nothing to worry about rather than paying for car parking and having to remember what time you have to go top up the parking ticket..

No problems myself paying a fee to park .

just have to be careful the carparks are not contracted out to some parking scheme that will install pay and display machine and staff to maintain the said machines and police the carparks .

this will not benefit the museum fully .

What also happens if the goverment stops the funding for the museum a few years down the line.

the museum will have to charge you entrance money then, plus carparking on top, as i would guess they will be a contract with the parking scheme for a set amount of years say 10 years.

Just the point I have made previously, thin end of the wedge. Government finding a way to refill it’s depleted coffers.

Yep, be up front, if you need the money, reintroduce admission charges.

Planemike……….

Paying for car parking at Cosford seems a little bit over the top, after all where else can you go other than the museum after you have paid ? Hendon however would seem to have a better excuss after all how many people have used Hendon to park the car then catch the Tube into central London ? I have done this when business meetings have allowed a return to Hendon before closing time at 5.00pm, I have of course also taken the opertunity of a quick look around, on one occansion even dragging three non aviation colleages around the place!!!

No problems myself paying a fee to park .

just have to be careful the carparks are not contracted out to some parking scheme that will install pay and display machine and staff to maintain the said machines and police the carparks .

this will not benefit the museum fully .

What also happens if the goverment stops the funding for the museum a few years down the line.

the museum will have to charge you entrance money then, plus carparking on top, as i would guess they will be a contract with the parking scheme for a set amount of years say 10 years.

Museums such as Ceventry etc. are run on a charitable basis and you can be pretty sure your £ 1:00s are going to be used for a/c preservation Planemike…………..

Well, that’s the hope 😡

Roger Smith

One example of where the money goes at Newark http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1435101&postcount=20

Checked this morning – still no intention of introducing any car parking fees at Newark either! 😉

It’s funny how some are stating that the fee is OK as long they know the money is going to the right places. How many charities, museums etc that you pay for, break down the costs for you? Not many I can think of. Why is Cosford different? Is it because it has been free for a longtime?

Recent large cash demands for the continuing flight status of a large cold war bomber were met and honoured(with a bit of cajoling) with enthusiasm (albeit not everywhere) but a few pounds to park at one the best museums on the country is treated with cynicism and contempt. Hmmmm…..

I know what I would rather pay for…

Cosford is different because it is a “government funded” museum. One just has the feeling that the hand of the Treasury is behind a move like this. “We need some cash in the coffers. What little wheese can we come up with?” Museums such as Newark, Coventry etc. are run on a charitable basis and you can be pretty sure your £ 1:00s are going to be used for a/c preservation.

Planemike…………..

It’s funny how some are stating that the fee is OK as long they know the money is going to the right places. How many charities, museums etc that you pay for, break down the costs for you? Not many I can think of. Why is Cosford different? Is it because it has been free for a longtime?

Recent large cash demands for the continuing flight status of a large cold war bomber were met and honoured(with a bit of cajoling) with enthusiasm (albeit not everywhere) but a few pounds to park at one the best museums on the country is treated with cynicism and contempt. Hmmmm…..

I know what I would rather pay for…

The Vulcan has never claimed to be free though.
The cynic in me says this is the thin end of the wedge, £3 this year, £4.50 next year, and then in a few years time you’ll be paying £10 to park your car at the ‘free’ museum.

It’s funny how some are stating that the fee is OK as long they know the money is going to the right places. How many charities, museums etc that you pay for, break down the costs for you? Not many I can think of. Why is Cosford different? Is it because it has been free for a longtime?

Recent large cash demands for the continuing flight status of a large cold war bomber were met and honoured(with a bit of cajoling) with enthusiasm (albeit not everywhere) but a few pounds to park at one the best museums on the country is treated with cynicism and contempt. Hmmmm…..

I know what I would rather pay for…

I would be happy to pay a small amount as long as i knew it was going to the museum. I do like Old Wardens arrangement with the car parking charges giving you a discount elsewhere.

As quite a few posters have alluded to previously,whether I agree or not with car park charging entirely depends on where the money goes.
I would be much happier to pay an entrance fee/voluntary contribution direct to museum funds.

cheers BV