LEICESTER City Council is advising drivers that Leicester has plenty of capacity in its city centre car parks, despite the imminent closure of four NCP car parks.
The Joint Administrators of National Car Parks (NCP) told the council yesterday that four NCP-operated car parks in the city centre will close permanently on 27 March. These are at Abbey Street, East Street, Lee Circle and the Rutland Centre.
These closures are part of NCP’s national administration process and outside of the council’s control.
Martin Fletcher, the council’s City Highways Director, said: “We recognise this will reduce parking capacity in and around the city centre and appreciate the concern this may cause for residents, visitors, and businesses. We are working closely with partners to manage the impact of these closures, and looking at any future actions needed.
“However, it’s important to note that even with the loss of the NCP spaces, there remain more than 9,000 off-street parking spaces in the centre of Leicester, as well as around 1,300 on-street spaces available for public use. These include key city centre sites such as Highcross, Haymarket, Newarke Street, St Nicholas Circle, Welford Road, Dover Street and Phoenix Square."
Details of all city centre car parks and a map showing their location is available on the council’s website at leicester.gov.uk
All of the city council's car parks have earned the coveted Park Mark award, which means the spaces are well managed, well lit and well cared for, and benefit from effective surveillance for a safer parking experience.
Martin Fletcher added: “To help ease pressure, we are encouraging drivers to also consider using the city’s Park & Ride services from Birstall, Enderby and Meynell’s Gorse, which provide convenient, affordable and sustainable access to the city centre.
“Parking is free all day, and buses run into the city centre every 15 minutes from 7am to 7pm. Tickets cost £4.85 for a single passenger, and £6 for up to five people arriving at the site in one car.”
More information on park and ride services, now operated by the Roberts Travel Group, is available at robertstravelgroup.co.uk
The Leicester Buses Partnership has recently introduced new, reduced price Flexi Tickets which can be used on all buses in Leicester. These will be available from 29 March, and during the Easter holidays will include a Family Flexi ticket which costs just £6.40 for two adults and up to three children to have a day’s unlimited travel anywhere within Leicester.
More information is available on the Leicester Buses website at leicesterbuses.co.uk/flexi-ticketing