Information on Loughborough

Loughborough Carparking

Posted on 31/01/2008
P. Klein

Parkingsign on multistorey car park

Changes are afoot at Charnwood Borough Council’s Beehive Lane multi-storey car park.

Motorists needing to bring their vehicles into town and using the 600-plus space facility will no longer be ‘paying and displaying’ from the beginning of next week – as a new charging system goes live.

Users will in future need to pay on foot from 8am on Monday, February 4th, meaning drivers will be charged for the length of time they have been parked in Beehive Lane as opposed to buying a ticket on arrival.

The fairly standard and easy-to-use system which is common elsewhere removes the possibility of people receiving a Penalty Charge Notice for failing to display a ticket or staying longer than the allotted time.

The new equipment which includes barriers at the two entrance and exit points have already been installed, and the pay machines will also accept debit or credit card payments for motorists who have been parked there for two hours or longer.

Cllr Mike Preston, Conservative councillor for Queniborough and Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for the Environment, said the new system was what the majority of people wanted.

He added: “Pay on foot parking means motorists will not have to rush back to their car for fear of getting a Parking Charge Notice, meaning they can take their time and relax while visiting Loughborough.

“Although the new pay system means Blue Badge holders will have to pay to park at Beehive Lane, we are increasing the number of free disabled parking spaces at our other car parks in the town.

“I’m sure this is something that will be welcomed by all the car park users as drivers will no longer have to guess when they arrive how long they might need to stay.”

An uncomplicated three-point plan has been drawn up by Charnwood officers to circumvent people getting confused when using the new system:

  • Collect ticket from machine at the entrance to the car park and leave your vehicle in a marked bay – do not leave your ticket in the vehicle.
  • Pay for parking at pay machine before returning to your vehicle
  • Drive to exit barrier and insert ticket into the machine – the barrier will then rise if the correct payment has been made. No payments can be made at the exit barriers.

    • The ‘pay on foot’ system at Beehive Lane will be evaluated and, if successful, could be introduced at other car parks in Loughborough.

    To find out more about Charnwood Borough Council owned car parks, including locations and a list of tariffs, then log on to www.charnwood.gov.uk/streets/parking.html