Chester Zoo now charging visitors to park closer to entrance

Chester Zoo will now start charging visitors who want to park closer to the entrance.

The zoo has introduced 240 Premium Parking spaces - in addition to the 6,000 free parking spaces - to allow guests and members the opportunity to park closer to the main entrance gates.

Costing £5 per vehicle, the new parking spaces are available to book online in advance and can also be purchased on the day.

However some families have said Chester Zoo should be "ashamed" of the new parking area.

Visitor Phil Lambe tweeted: "Shame on Chester Zoo for attempting to profiteer by now charging for 'Premium Parking' on top of membership prices.

"Families with young children now unable to park closer unless they make further payments."

However, Chester Zoo have said the optional add-on Premium Parking will raise vital funds for the zoo.

A Chester Zoo spokesperson said: "Chester Zoo is a great value day out and is different to most other major attractions in that it doesn't charge for parking.

"The optional add-on of Premium Parking (6,000 free parking spaces are still available) will allow the zoo, a conservation and education charity, to raise new funds to inject into its vital mission to prevent the extinction of species all around the world."

The are 160 Premium Parking spaces available to book online in advance and 40 which can be purchased on the day.

Premium Parking was introduced on Monday August 5th as an optional add-on for guests at the zoo.

Chester Zoo received 1.97m visitors last year, a record-breaking figure for the popular visitor attraction.

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