Parks and open spaces fees and charges
Parks and open spaces fees and charges with effect from 1 April 2025
Contents
1. General conditions
2. Event hire
3. Circuses and funfairs
4. Fitness providers
5. Car park charges
6. Camping and caravan rally events
7. Permits
8. Indoor and outdoor space hire
9. Utilities
10. Commemorative dedications
11. Advertisement banners
12. Miscellaneous
Fees and charges 1 April 2025 approved by:
- Mark Walsh, Director of Operations, Leisure and Culture
- Rachael Mann, Chief Operating Officer
- Cllr Ian Shipp, Portfolio Holder Leisure
1. General conditions
West Suffolk Council are empowered under the Local Government Act 2003 to levy charges for discretionary services, such as those provided by the council in their parks and open spaces. The setting of fees and charges for activities and facilities in West Suffolk's parks and open spaces is delegated to the Director of Operations, Leisure and Culture, after consultation with the Chief Operating Officer and the Portfolio Holder for Leisure. The fees and charges are reviewed on an annual basis. An annual review of fees and charges is an integral part of the annual service planning cycle and the anticipated income forms part of the council’s base budget.
Please note the prices shown include 20% VAT unless otherwise stated.
2. Event hire
For information about licensing visit our Alcohol and entertainment licences pages.
Hire charge duration
Unless stated otherwise, all charges are a daily rate.
2.1 Non-commercial events
Any event hosted by a non-commercial organisation will be charged as per the table below based on the expected number of attendees notified to us during the application process. Should an event have significantly more attendees than planned a larger fee will be charged to reflect this where the same event is booked again at a later date.
| Non-commercial category | Expected attendance | Fee zero VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Less than 30 | £28.50 |
| XX small | 31 to 50 | £70.00 |
| X small | 51 to 100 | £136.00 |
| Small | 101 to 300 | £182.00 |
| Medium | 301 to 500 | £360.00 |
| Large | 501 to 1,000 | £536.00 |
| X large | 1,001 to 2,500 | £660.00 |
| XX large | 2,501 to 5,000 | £900.00 |
| XXX large | 5,001 and over | £1,440.00 |
2.2 Runs or cycle rides
If a run or cycle ride requires the use of the park for only start or finish purposes and therefore the route is not through any of the park’s other areas than reduced rates can be applied. If the route takes place around the park itself, then the rates below will apply:
| Runs or cycle rides category | Expected attendance | Fee zero VAT |
|---|---|---|
| X-Small | Less than 100 | £136.00 |
| Small | 101 to 500 | £182.00 |
| Medium | 501 to 1,000 | £330.00 |
| Large | 1,001 and over | £510.00 |
Please note: it is the hirer’s responsibility to inform the relevant highways department for any road closures required for the event.
2.3 Commercial events
All commercial event hire charges are based on 10% of the expected ticket income of the event. This is calculated from the average ticket price of the forthcoming event and its expected or historical attendance.
Example calculations
| Commercial event | Music concert |
|---|---|
| Attendance | 5,000 |
| Average ticket price | £25 |
| Expected sales | £125,000 |
| 10% fee | £12,500 |
| Commercial event | Outdoor cinema |
|---|---|
| Attendance | 1,500 |
| Average ticket price | £12 |
| Expected sales | £18,000 |
| 10% fee | £1,800 |
| Commercial event | Beer festival |
|---|---|
| Attendance |
850 |
| Average ticket price |
£9 |
| Expected sales | £7,650 |
| 10% fee | £765 |
2.4 Non event day fee
All events are to be charged for the whole period they are on site, with a reduced rate for set up and break down days. It is the same rate across all West Suffolk Council sites.
| Non event day fee | Fee zero VAT |
| Non-operational day |
£40.00 |
For information on waste and event clearance visit our Waste and event clearance webpage.
2.5 Community groups and regular bookings
If you’re hosting activities or events regularly at our parks and open spaces an overall hire fee will be negotiated with the parks team, reflecting the total attendance, impact on the site and the ranger team. Negotiations can also be applied for small, local community events.
2.6 Cancellation fee
To confirm the event, the hire fee must be paid at least 10 weeks in advance. This hire fee is non-refundable. Should an event be cancelled prior to the 10 week confirmation a £28.50 (zero VAT) fee will be charged.
3. Circuses and funfairs
3.1 Conditions
- A non-returnable booking deposit per visit is applicable.
- Equivalent to one day’s hire, this amount is however, deducted from the final invoice.
- Overall fee is calculated for both operational days and non-operational days, covering the whole period the site is in use.
- West Suffolk Council will only accept bookings for circuses where no animals are used as any part of any act.
The sites available for circuses are:
- George Lambton Playing Fields, Newmarket
- Recreation Ground, Haverhill
- other sites may be available by negotiation.
3.2 Non-operating day charges
Both circuses and funfairs are to be charged for the whole period they are on site, with a reduced rate for non-operational days. It is the same rate across all West Suffolk Council sites.
| Non-operational day | Fee zero VAT |
|---|---|
| Non-operational day |
£40.00 |
3.3 Circuses operating day charges
| Size | Details | Fee zero VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Large | Greater than or equal to 25m big top | £560.00 |
| Small | Less than 25m big top | £310.00 |
3.4 Funfair operating day charges
| Location | Fee zero VAT |
|---|---|
| Oakes Road, Bury St Edmunds | £360.00 |
| Recreation Ground, Haverhill | £360.00 |
| George Lambton Playing Fields, Newmarket | £350.00 |
4. Fitness providers
4.1 Personal training with less than five people in attendance
Contractual conditions
- A six-month contract will be agreed after a trial month (free of charge) has been completed to gauge demand.
- Hire charge dependant on park use.
- All contracts are non-exclusive use of the park or open space.
| 1-5 attendees | Monthly fee zero VAT |
|---|---|
| 1 day per week | £24.79 |
| 2 days a week | £49.57 |
| 3 days a week | £72.11 |
| 4 days a week | £99.15 |
| 5 days a week | £123.93 |
| 6 days a week | £148.72 |
| 7 days a week | £171.25 |
4.2 Group sessions of more than five attendees
Contractual conditions
- A six-month contract will be agreed after a trial month (free of charge) has been completed to gauge demand.
- All contracts are non-exclusive use of the park or open space.
| 6 - 10 attendees | Monthly fee zero VAT |
|---|---|
| 1 day per week | £33.80 |
| 2 days a week | £63.09 |
| 3 days a week | £99.15 |
| 4 days a week | £132.95 |
| 5 days a week | £164.49 |
| 6 days a week | £198.29 |
| 7 days a week | £227.59 |
| 11 - 15 attendees | Monthly fee zero VAT |
|---|---|
| 1 day per week | £54.08 |
| 2 days a week | £108.16 |
| 3 days a week | £157.73 |
| 4 days a week | £211.81 |
| 5 days a week | £265.89 |
| 6 days a week | £322.23 |
| 7 days a week | £376.31 |
| 16 - 20 attendees | Monthly fee zero VAT |
|---|---|
| 1 day per week | £72.11 |
| 2 days a week | £148.72 |
| 3 days a week | £220.83 |
| 4 days a week | £297.44 |
| 5 days a week | £371.80 |
| 6 days a week | £446.16 |
| 7 days a week | £520.52 |
| 21 - 25 attendees | Monthly fee zero VAT |
|---|---|
| 1 day per week | £92.39 |
| 2 days a week | £187.03 |
| 3 days a week | £281.67 |
| 4 days a week | £376.31 |
| 5 days a week | £470.95 |
| 6 days a week | £570.09 |
| 7 days a week | £664.73 |
| 26 - 30 attendees | Monthly fee zero VAT |
|---|---|
| 1 day per week | £114.92 |
| 2 days a week | £227.59 |
| 3 days a week | £349.27 |
| 4 days a week | £461.93 |
| 5 days a week | £574.60 |
| 6 days a week | £691.77 |
| 7 days a week | £808.95 |
| Over 30 attendees | Monthly fee zero VAT |
|---|---|
| 1 day per week | £123.93 |
| 2 days a week | £250.12 |
| 3 days a week | £371.80 |
| 4 days a week | £497.99 |
| 5 days a week | £619.67 |
| 6 days a week | £741.35 |
| 7 days a week | £863.03 |
5. Car park charges
5.1 Car park suspension
If the event requires free parking for attendees, or the main car park will not be available to the general public, a suspension charge will be applicable, recovering the day’s car park costs.
The sites where car park suspension is available are:
- Brandon Country Park
- Nowton Park
- West Stow Country Park
| Time of year | Fee |
|---|---|
| April to October | £325.00 |
| November to March | £215.00 |
5.2 Brandon Country Park car park charges
Fees apply Monday – Sunday (8am to 8pm)
| Length of stay | Fee |
|---|---|
| Under 2 hours | £2.00 |
| Over 2 hours | £3.00 |
| Blue Badge (all day) | £2.00 |
| Annual permit (12 months) | £30.00 |
5.3 Hardwick Heath car park charges
Summer gates open 9am until 8pm and winter gates open 8.30am until 6pm.
Fees apply Monday to Sunday 10am to 4pm including bank holidays
| Length of stay | Fee |
|---|---|
| Under 2 hours | £2.00 |
| Under 3 hours | £5.00 |
| Over 3 hours | £11.00 |
| Blue badge cost | |
| Up to 3 hours | £2.00 |
| Up to 4 hours | £5.00 |
| Over 4 hours | £11.00 |
5.4 Nowton Park car park charges
Fee apply: Monday – Sunday (Winter, 9am to 5pm, Summer, 7am to 8pm)
| Length of stay | Fee |
|---|---|
| Under 2 hours | £2.00 |
| Over 2 hours | £3.00 |
| Blue Badge (all day) | £2.00 |
| Annual permit (12 months) | £30.00 |
5.5 West Stow Country Park car park charges
Fees apply: Monday – Sunday (Winter, 9am to 5pm, Summer, 7am to 8pm)
| Length of stay | Fee |
|---|---|
| Under 2 hours | £2.00 |
| Over 2 hours | £3.00 |
| Blue Badge over 2 hours | £2.00 |
| Annual permit (12 months) | £30.00 |
5.6 Holywater Meadow car park charges
Fees apply: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, No restrictions on Sundays and bank holidays
| Length of stay | Fee |
|---|---|
| Free for 2 hours | £0.00 |
| Maximum stay 2 hours | £0.00 |
5.7 Football car park permits
These permits are issued by Abbeycroft Leisure to the football leagues and clubs who book to play matches on pitches at Nowton Park and Hardwick Heath. West Suffolk Council print and produce the permits for Abbeycroft Leisure on an annual basis. The permits are uniquely numbered so that Abbeycroft can keep a track of what they’ve issued. The permits are issued for match day use only (not training), for the duration of the match, that is either Saturday or Sunday morning dependent on which leagues they play in. Abbeycroft Leisure then reimburse West Suffolk Council Parks with the income generated on an annual basis in July each year.
| Playing season August to May | Fee (August 25 to May 26 only) |
|---|---|
| Permit per car (Saturday and Sunday only) | £6.00 |
For more information about car parks visit our Car parks webpages.
6. Camping and caravan rally events
Camping pitches are only available at Nowton Park.
A total hire fee will be calculated for a caravan club rally event which is zero rated VAT, based on the figures below.
| Rally events | Fee |
|---|---|
| Per vehicle charge | £18.00 zero VAT |
| Electricity hook-up (per event day) | £26.40 |
| Water access (per event day) | £9.90 |
7. Permits
Metal detecting
- Permits last twelve months from the date of purchase
- Sites it applies to are:
- East Town Park
- Hardwick Heath
- Nowton Park
| Type | Total fee |
|---|---|
| Adult or child | £31.50 |
For more information about metal detecting visit our Metal detecting webpage.
Park car parks annual permits
Permits last twelve months from the date of purchase
| Park | Fee |
|---|---|
| Brandon Country Park (BCP) | £30.00 |
| Nowton Park (NP) | £30.00 |
| West Stow Country Park (WSCP) | £30.00 |
| All parks (BCP, NP, WSCP) | £45.00 |
For more information about car parks visit our Car parks webpages.
8. Indoor and outdoor space hire
Abbey Gardens
| Outdoor spaces | Fee zero VAT |
|---|---|
| Bandstand | Free of charge |
| Water Garden exclusive access for photography | £71 per hour |
Tennis
| Rate | Total fee |
|---|---|
| Per court | £5.75 per hour |
Brandon Country Park
| Indoor spaces | Full day 4 hours and over zero VAT | Half day under 4 hours zero VAT |
|---|---|---|
| The Pump room | £115.00 | £69.00 |
| The Bothy | £115.00 | £69.00 |
| The Engine House (The Pump House and The Bothy) | £170.00 | £104.00 |
| Charity or local community discounted rate | Minimum 2 hours | £11.50 per hour |
East Town Park
| Indoor spaces | Fee |
|---|---|
| Countryside Centre | £11.50 per hour zero VAT |
| Countryside Centre – tea urn and crockery | £11.50 per day |
Haverhill Recreation Ground
| Outdoor spaces | Fee |
|---|---|
| Bandstand | Free of charge |
Nowton Park
| Outdoor spaces | Fee zero VAT |
|---|---|
| Bushcraft area | 7 hours £50 |
| Green woodworking area | 5 hours £40 |
| Hourly rate | Minimum 2 hours £11.50 per hour |
For more information visit our West Suffolk parks, outdoor spaces and venues for hire webpage.
9. Utilities
Availability
The charges below are applicable where water is available at the displayed sites. Access can be granted and will be monitored to ensure health and safety regulations are met.
Water
| Available at | Total fee |
|---|---|
| Abbey Gardens Brandon Country Park East Town Park George Lambton Playing Fields Nowton Park West Stow Country Park |
£11.55 per day |
Electricity
| Available at | Total fee |
|---|---|
| Abbey Gardens Brandon Country Park East Town Park Nowton Park West Stow Country Park |
£26.40 per day |
Fencing
| Available at | Fee (per 100m) | Fence pin fee (per 10) |
|---|---|---|
| Abbey Gardens Brandon Country Park East Town Park Nowton Park West Stow Country Park |
£16.20 | £5.70 |
Waste management
Bin and skip delivery and collection available. Please contact commercial.services@westsuffolk.gov.uk for a quote.
Cleaning and toilet attendant costs (provided by Verse Facilities Management)
A quotation will be obtained on request for any additional cleaning or extended opening hours.
10. Commemorative dedications
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Brass leaf on memorial tree standard size, 10-year lease (Rose Garden section within the Abbey Gardens) |
£415.00 zero VAT |
| Brass leaf on memorial tree larger size, 10-year lease (Rose Garden section within the Abbey Garden) |
£480.00 zero VAT |
| Dedication plaque in a rose bed, 10-year lease including plaque (Rose Garden section within the Abbey Gardens and Haverhill Cemetery) |
£455.00 zero VAT |
| Brandon 1,500-mllimetre bench, 10-year lease including plaque and maintenance (subject to availability) | £1,365.00 |
| Renewal of bench dedication lease, additional 5 years | £315 zero VAT |
| Memorial trees (various), 10-year lease including plaque (subject to availability) | £650.00 zero VAT |
| Renewal of tree and plaque dedication lease, additional 10 years | 50% cost of the original tree and plaque zero VAT |
| Administration fee per replacement plaque for tree, rose and bench | £11.00 zero VAT |
| Replacement bench plaque 150mm x 75mm silver with black writing | £70.00 zero VAT |
| Replacement plaque 150mm x 130mm silver with black writing on metal backing plate and stake (Haverhill Cemetery) | £113.00 zero VAT |
| Dedication plaque 101mm x 76mm, 10-year lease on memorial wall (Haverhill Cemetery) | £222 zero VAT |
For information about dedications visit our Cemeteries pages.
11. Advertisement banners
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Hiring two Abbey Gardens forecourt banner poles (fortnight booking) | £216.00 |
| Hiring four Abbey Gardens forecourt banner poles (fortnight booking) | £324.00 |
| Street banners – Abbeygate Street or Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds | £456.00 |
| Street banners – High Street, Haverhill | £480.00 |
For more information about hiring advertising banners visit our Banners webpage.
12. Miscellaneous
A range of miscellaneous charges, some of which have been covered on previous pages but also apply to general hire where applicable.
Ranger and event staff time
| Rate | Fee |
|---|---|
| Hourly | £34.50 |
Non-operational days
| Rate | Fee zero VAT |
|---|---|
| Daily | £40 |