To ensure parking is fairer and always available to visitors and members of Ventnor Botanic Garden, the Community Interest Company that runs the Garden has employed an external supplier to manage a new number plate recognition system in the car park of this popular Island attraction from the beginning of April 2023.
Members and Garden visitors will continue to park for free. Day visitors to the Garden will be able to enter their number plate on simple touch-screens when they enter via the Plantation Room Cafe or Admissions Window at the front of the Garden.
Full access to the car park
Members will have full access to the car park without the need to enter their registration, although checking their registration with the team is advised on their next visit.
Any visitors not entering the Garden, but instead visiting the Plantation Room Cafe or Puya Shop and spending over £10 will also receive free parking.
Parking for Steephill Cove
Parking for Steephill Cove will remain the same with £5 all day parking, and a now cheaper rate of £3 during winter months, with a more accessible meter nearer the car park entrance.
A 15-minute drop-off period is also being introduced free of charge.
Fairer to genuine visitors and VBG members
This change will be fairer to those genuine visitors and our members, whilst also ensuring that there are suitable parking spaces available during busy periods, as it has become clearer over recent years that the introduction of this new system was needed.
Parking fee remain the same
The price of parking has not changed. Any additional funds generated will obviously help secure the future of the Garden.
This initiative should make parking for visitors and members far easier, drivers using the carpark for other uses will pay for the use. Fines will be issued for misuse as per other carparks using this system.
Positive feedback
Staff have trialled the system for the last week with lots of positive feedback from members and visitors and have used that week to iron out any glitches in the customer journey to ensure a smooth start for April.
News shared by Ra on behalf of Ventnor Botanic Garden. Ed
