The expansion of the Park & Ride site at Odd Down is now complete with 230 extra parking spaces for public transport users.
Completion of this part of the £27 million Bath Transportation Package, which is being funded with Government support, will be followed by expansion at Lansdown and Newbridge Park & Rides in early 2013. The end result will be 870 new spaces – an increase of nearly 50% in Park & Ride capacity to 2,860 spaces.
Nearly 50,000 cars enter Bath every single weekday. The Government predicts that this will increase by 15% over the next 10 years – equivalent to an extra 7,500 cars per day. The expansion is a key part of the Council’s plans to reduce congestion, improve air quality, whilst supporting new infrastructure for economic growth and jobs.
At regular times during the year, the Park & Ride sites are full by midday at the latest. This means that motorists who cannot find a space travel towards an already congested city centre to find a parking space, despite being willing to use public transport.
Councillor Roger Symonds (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Transport, said, “It is frustrating for workers and visitors who want to use Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Park & Ride service but discover the car park is full early in the day. The completion of the expansion of Odd Down is a landmark day which helps make this problem a thing of the past. Park & Ride becomes a more viable option for people travelling to Bath from outside the city.
“The expansion benefits all Bath residents. Because we will capture more cars travelling to the city from outside, this should reduce the pressure on the city centre network, improve air quality, and make the road environment safer for people on bicycles and on foot.”
The completion of the expansion before Christmas has been welcomed by the business community, particularly as it coincides with extended operating hours during the festive period, including the Christmas Market.
Ian Bell, Director of the Bath Chamber of Commerce, said, “It is excellent news that shoppers and workers will be able to take advantage of the extra space in time for the busy festive period. The business community believe an improved public transport network is essential if our area is to create new jobs for local people, so the completion of the Odd Down Park & Ride expansion is a step in the right direction.”
The expansion is hot-on-the-heels of a massive upgrade of the 8 strong Park & Ride fleet, operated on behalf of the Council by First, which included greener hybrid electric/ diesel vehicles, climate control, Wi-Fi, and leather seats, as well as a 7 day a week service.
For more information about the Council’s Park & Ride service, including the extended operating hours for Christmas, go to www.bathnes.gov.uk/parkandride
