Paying for parking and camping was all part of the deal when the Forestry Commission took over the management of the toilet block, car park and camping at Harrison’s Rocks. A few years back when it was first announced that the toilet block was to be closed and then potentially demolished, there was an uproar from the south-east climbing community. Without the toilet facilities the campsite could not stay open.The Forestry Commission agreed that the money raised from the parking fees and camping, would go towards the upkeep of the facilities which the climbing community fought so hard to keep.
It has been noticed that some visitors have not been paying for their camping. They may have a valid yearly parking ‘discovery pass’, which allows them to park in the car park, but as soon as they stay overnight, it is deemed as camping, so a camping charge is needed to be paid at the machine.
The upkeep of the camping is important and costly, mainly due to the facilities used by visitors staying over night; water and electricity from the toilet block usage are costly for the Forestry Commission, as well as regular refuse pick-ups from the large bin in the car park. Please take all this into consideration when staying at Harrison’s. With the Forestry Commission’s budget already stretched, all visitors need to pay in order to secure the future of the facilities. If people continue not to pay for camping in 2018 then there is a very strong risk that the campsite and potentialy certain aspects of the facilities, will close.
So easily forgotten, the long discussions regarding the fate of the toilet block and camping. Read the old stories here:17/04/2015 Facilities are now open at Harrison's (Campsite opening soon)
27/03/2015 Birchden Wood - Harrisons Rocks Facilities Update
29/10/2014 Harrison's Rocks Car Park & Facilities Decision
14/04/2014 Harrison's Rocks Toilets and Campsite Now Open
18/03/2014 Update - Harrison's facilities to open in March 2014
12/12/2013 Submit your idea for Harrison's Facilities
13/11/2013 Latest News - Harrison's Toilet Block to be Refurbished
21/10/2013 Petition for Harrison's Rocks toilet block and campsite
09/07/2013 Closure of Harrison's Campsite and Toilet Facilities