A Carlisle man has hit out after he was told he would have to pay £100 to take a picture of himself and his car outside the city's castle.
Robert Reid, of Carlton Gardens, parked his 1992 Volvo 850 in the driveway of the castle last Sunday so he could have his photograph taken with it.
He had just won a cup at The Volvo Owners Club National Rally in Warwick and wanted a photo to send to a car magazine.
But a security guard from English Heritage strode out and told him he was trespassing on their property and would have to get permission and pay £100 to take the photograph.
The 74-year-old said: “I wasn’t for moving. I told her I’d done my National Service with the Border Regiment in the castle.
“I said all I wanted was a photograph of the car for the club magazine because on the day I was showing it I didn’t get a photograph at Warwick. I don’t believe what this country is coming to. She said you would not go to Chelsea Barracks in London and take photographs and I told her no I wouldn’t because I didn’t want to. She eventually said they would turn a blind eye – I think it was my National Service that swung it.
“It is ridiculous that a citizen of Carlisle can’t take a photo in front of the castle. I thought I was going to finish up in the dungeon.”
An English Heritage spokeswoman said admitted that a member of staff had incorrectly told Mr Reid he could not take a picture on site.
“While commercial photography at our sites does require permission and incurs a small fee, members of the public are free to take images for their own personal use,” she said.
“Although later resolved, there seems to have been some initial confusion about the purpose of the photography.
“We fully regret the incident and apologise for any distress caused to Mr Reid.”
Robert Reid, of Carlton Gardens, parked his 1992 Volvo 850 in the driveway of the castle last Sunday so he could have his photograph taken with it.
He had just won a cup at The Volvo Owners Club National Rally in Warwick and wanted a photo to send to a car magazine.
But a security guard from English Heritage strode out and told him he was trespassing on their property and would have to get permission and pay £100 to take the photograph.
The 74-year-old said: “I wasn’t for moving. I told her I’d done my National Service with the Border Regiment in the castle.
“I said all I wanted was a photograph of the car for the club magazine because on the day I was showing it I didn’t get a photograph at Warwick. I don’t believe what this country is coming to. She said you would not go to Chelsea Barracks in London and take photographs and I told her no I wouldn’t because I didn’t want to. She eventually said they would turn a blind eye – I think it was my National Service that swung it.
“It is ridiculous that a citizen of Carlisle can’t take a photo in front of the castle. I thought I was going to finish up in the dungeon.”
An English Heritage spokeswoman said admitted that a member of staff had incorrectly told Mr Reid he could not take a picture on site.
“While commercial photography at our sites does require permission and incurs a small fee, members of the public are free to take images for their own personal use,” she said.
“Although later resolved, there seems to have been some initial confusion about the purpose of the photography.
“We fully regret the incident and apologise for any distress caused to Mr Reid.”
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