NHS workers and other key staff who are delivering essential services to the people of Leicester can park free of charge in any city council pay & display car park until further notice.
The city council has suspended charges at its car parks to support those who can’t follow Government rules and stay at home because they need to be at work.
Parking in on-street bays is also free of charge, restrictions on limited waiting bays have been lifted and enforcement officers will not be ticketing vehicles, helping essential workers to carry out their work.
City Highways Director Martin Fletcher said: “We recognise that it’s important that NHS staff and other essential workers can park where they need to, and that they may need to stay longer than restrictions allow.
“Our policy now is to support these key workers and do what we can to allow them to park freely in the city – and by suspending parking charges, lifting restrictions and supporting rather than enforcing, we hope we can make things a little bit easier for them.”
City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “We want to do what we can to help NHS staff, and others who are doing essential jobs in the city, get to work every day.
“With all the NCP car parks in the city offering free parking to key workers too, it means there are thousands of free parking spaces available to the people who are working so hard to keep us safe.”
Parking is now free of charge at the following city car parks: Haymarket; Victoria Park; Dover Street; Upper Brown Street; Phoenix Arts; Abbey Park; St Margaret’s Pastures.
Newarke Street multi-storey car park, however, is closed until further notice.
Free parking for NHS staff and other key workers is also available at the following NCP car parks: East Street; St Nicholas Circle; Lee Circle; Abbey Street; Rutland Centre; Welford Road.
While essential staff still need to travel to work, for most of us the message is simple: stay at home.
“If you do need to drive somewhere to pick up food or emergency supplies, please park responsibly,” said City Highways Director Martin Fletcher.
“Never park on double yellow lines at junctions, on zig zags at crossings or across dropped kerbs - and please do not park in disabled bays unless you are a Blue Badge holder.”