If we put up a visitor centre for every hill in Shropshire, or every notable hill in the UK where on earth would we be then?
Simply leave things as they are parking wise, but put out a donation box with a well-designed information point, that is all that is required…The money raised then could go towards footpath work and conservation instead of the up keep of a visitor centre with all the associated costs, I speak myself from first hand experience.

Why do we need a visitor centre at every opportunity when a well designed information point would suffice?

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It’s all very well people objecting to paying for parking at the Wrekin but were it to be a reasonable charge I don’t see a problem. I would love to see a visitors centre on the Wrekin to inform visitors to the area about the history and heritage of our landscape. we should be proud of the Wrekin and want to share it with visitors who will then go home telling friends of the wonderful scenery and interesting history of Telford’s much loved monument and if parking charges are the way to raise funds to make that happen then so be it.

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I think I would – AS LONG AS the money went to keep the car park secure from those who would break into the cars while the owners were walking up the Wrekin. Imagine how easy it would be if someone were to watch you park and them ascend the Wrekin .. they would know your going to be away for plenty of time.
A visitor centre could sell trinkets and stuff, to keep going and raise funds for the paths and upkeep but proper on-site security would cost money. Its a nightly hang-out from what I’ve seen some evenings when driving past – so I hope the visitor centre is secure.

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The Wrekin is patheti and doesn’t warrant a visitor centre. Much better hills in Shropshire to visit already with visitor information and tea shops.

As someone with some experience of hill and mountains (have climbed every mountain in England and Wales) I feel qualified to comment – just what qualifications do these council bods have? A degree in Shoe Design? Cobblers!

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QUITE RIGHT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY!!!! ESPECIALLY DURING THE CREDIT CRUNCH! IF HAVE THE TIME TO GO WALKING THEN YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR PARKING!!! ONLY RICH PEOPLE GO WALKING

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Lucy W You have walked every hill in England and Wales???

try a mountain huni a much harder challenge

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vcxb: I’m poor and do loads of walking – done every mountain in England and Wales.

This visitor centre will be a loss maker from the off that every tax payer will have to fund this folly regardless of whether or not they want to walk up the Wrekin.
If people think car parking and selling sticky buns and cuppas with tacky gifts will pay for this you must be mad, absolutley mad!

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A GOOD IDEA WOULD KEEP THE CHAVS OUT SO ONLY SERIOUS WALKERS CAN USE IT

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Not satified with milking the motorist in every other aspect of driving, the motorist is now being expected to fund a visitor centre.

They are having a laugh?? or maybe not??

The great cash cow (AKA “the motorist) is there for the taking ….. again.

Criminal …. about time this is stopped, and funds taken from all the other extortianate taxes we pay:
Road tax, Fuel Tax, Vehicle taxes, speed camera revenue etc

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Sparky: Serious walkers will be else where!

Capt: I climber the Grossglocker highest moutain in Austria (3789m) and the parking was free. I would definately recommend it as well a visiting the bear by Hitler’s “Eagles Nest” if you are into Nazi memorabilia.

All these fees will actually put people off going and Rodney’s Pillar will be the “New Wrekin”.

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Lucy W – I know all about the hills in Church Stretton as I work in CS.

The hills are ok but the views cannot beat the view from the Wrekin.

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Y Mab: re#12 No I haven’t walked every hill much better things to do, and I have climbed many mountains all around the world, and I agree that generally they are more challenging.

I hope your un-challenging stroll up Wrekin Hill goes well this afternoon.

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Y Mab Darogan – careful, while you’re up the Wrekin Dave might break into your car.

I agree with Lucy – never liked the Wrekin – Long Mynd far nicer. I’d even go so far as to suggest Nesscliff Hill is too.

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I climbed Everest without oxygen and in my swim shorts! then I woke up! went up the Wrekin years a go with the Air Cadets then tackled a Longmynd hike! I really liked both.

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A few miles down the road from Shropshire are the Malvern Hills, until you have stood at the top of the Worcester Beacon on a clear day with the muted tones of Edward Elgar sounding in ones earphones, one hasn’t been up any hill in England worth the effort, the continent or anywhere. One can look down on the Wrekin, Brown Clee and many other surrounding hills. You are charged to park though, quite hefty rates with rangers going around to check.

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I don’t see the need for a visitor centre, however, I never visit the Wrekin as it is too far away from where I live, therefore, my opinion is not that important. But I do have a soft spot for this lovely little mountain which stands above the Shropshire countryside. It was there that I first went camping and hiking at a Boy Scout camp in 1948. It was my introduction to the outdoors and I have since climbed many mountains. In the ’50s and ’60s the European alps – you know – Matterhorn, Eiger, Jungfrau, Piz Bernina etc. Later in New Zealand Mt. Cook, Aspiring etc., and now live in close proximity to the Selkirk and Rocky mountains where I spend much of my free time either climbing or skiing.
What I do believe is that the Wrekin and any other natural areas of Britain should be protected and motor vehicles of any kind should be kept at a very safe distance.

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£10 and worth every penny.

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Tony Lewis, we may have met. Remember the Log Cabin, the stream and so on. I did my first “official Scout Camp” on the Wrekin with Meole Brace Troop in 1948. Thereafter, a mate and myself cycled out from Shrewsbury on every available day to sleep in the Log Cabin – we were often the only ones on the Wrekin and the backwoods of Canada had nothing by comparison.
Oh! for those times back, when roads were uncluttered, motorways not thought of and one could look down from the Wrekin on a placid rural sight without hardly a car to be seen. Now with a population explosian, buildings and development going up everywhere, it won’t be long before there is a planning row going on about building high rise flats on the top of the Wrekin.

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Don’t you have a lot of ignoramuses airing their lack of understanding? The Wrekin and its forest are wonderful, magical places with delightful walks. There are four books about this beautiful place; I wrote two of them. I first ascended Th Wrekin in 1923 and hope to be the oldest chap to walk up – in five years time.
Please, no extra cars, traffic calming in the area, a visitor centre in Wellington and reopen the lavatories.
George the Ancient.

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