Coupled fined £100 for eating ice cream in New Forest car park

Colin Beck, 73, and his wife stopped for ice creams at Godshill Cricket forestry car park near Fordingbridge after visiting the New Forest for “donkey’s years”.

After buying two Mr Whippys, Mr Beck said the ice cream seller told him they had 15 minutes to eat them before leaving.

The couple stayed for less than 10 minutes before a Forestry Commission warden noted their number plate, before a fine later arrived in the post.

Colin Beck and his wife were fined £100 for stopping to have an ice cream in Godshill Cricket forestry car park (Image: Colin Beck)

"It’s another way of screwing the motorists," said Mr Beck.

"It must have cost them a fortune to put in all the notices, the ones that do have car park machines, all that sort of stuff.

"It’s just crazy.

"The New Forest is meant to be a free place, and I feel sorry for the guys who have got the ice cream businesses, because it must have hit them really hard."

Forestry England introduced charges on April 20 at all 129 of its previously free New Forest car parks, covering every vehicle including motorbikes and those displaying blue badges.

Parking costs £1.50 for one hour, £3 for two hours, £5 for four hours and £8 for more than four hours, leaving some visitors feeling priced out of the area.

Forestry England introduced the charges to tackle its funding problems.

"They can get stuffed," Mr Beck said.

"That’s the principle, really, isn’t it? The ice cream man says he’s there all the time, and he says you can park there to eat your ice cream, but what are you expected to do?

"Buy an ice cream and then drive along the road eating it, which is dangerous?"

A Forestry England spokesperson said motorists generally had 15 minutes before they had to pay, with parking rangers monitoring the car parks, but the organisation did not dictate how drivers used that time.

The spokesperson said every car park had clear signs explaining the terms and the “pay later” option.

The system gave motorists time to use the option before issuing a parking charge notice, the spokesperson added.

"They’ve got to rethink their policy," Mr Beck said.

"I mean, it’s my word against the guy in the van."

Mr Beck is appealing the fine and hopes it will be withdrawn.

"It’s just a bit heavy-handed," he said, "for just wanting to stop and have an ice cream, you know?"