HARD-up Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) is offering mobile catering concessions in some of its car parks as it seeks new ways to raise income in the next financial year.

The authority is accepting applications from catering businesses which are interested in operating in one or more of five car parks across Exmoor from April 1 at a cost of up to £750.

If all five car park concessions were taken up, the revenue would reach £3,500 to help with the national park authority's annual budget of £6.395 million.

If caterers were only to take evening concessions in each of the car parks they would pay a total of £1,500

A national park authority spokesperson said: “There are five sites available and three licence options available at each site for all day or a split for daytime and early evenings.

“The licence provides the opportunity to trade up to 365 days a year at your discretion.”

Catering businesses interested in the ENPA opportunities will need to complete and submit an online application form by March 4.

The five car parks included in the scheme are Blackmoor Gate, described as the ‘western gateway’ to the national park, a lay-by at Goat Hill Bridge, on the B3358 road, the ‘tank grounds’ on North Hill, Minehead, Haddon Hill car park, above Wimbleball Lake, and the upper car park in the Valley of the Rocks, near Lynton.

The lay-by at Goat Hill Bridge is being charged at £500 for a full day, while each of the other sites is £750, and evening-only rates are £200 for the lay-by and £300 for the others.

The national park authority spokesperson said: “Applicants are more than welcome to consider a seasonal offer which may vary throughout the year.

“Preference will be given to distinctiveness and an offer which complements and contrasts with existing nearby establishments.

“Applicants will be expected to operate in an environmentally responsible way, with practices such as zero use of single use plastics, avoiding litter, minimising the use of fossil fuels and noise/light pollution.

“Local provenance and use of local Exmoor branding is also highly encouraged.

“Successful applicants will align with the ethos of the national park by offering a warm welcome to all visitors who are attracted by the high-quality natural environment of the area.”

The spokesperson said successful caterers would also need to demonstrate their commitment to the fulfilment of the national park’s purposes, which were to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage of Exmoor and to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment by the public of the special qualities of the moor.

Catering units would need to be self-contained because no power or water would available for any of the sites, and all of the equipment would have to be removed at the end of each day.

All of the structures/catering units would have to be agreed with the national park authority before any licences could be taken up.