Information on Loughborough

Money secured for Birstall park and ride

Posted on 22/07/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Cabinet Office

22 July 2009

Money secured for Birstall park and ride

A £2million cash injection means that work is set to start on a new park and ride in Birstall next spring.

The ultra-modern facility at Hallam Fields will tackle congestion, offer frequent journeys into Leicester and include parking for 1,000 vehicles.

The £5.48million joint County and City Council project was due to receive £2million from Jelson Homes but this has now been withdrawn because of the downturn in the housing market.

To make up the shortfall, £2.13million of 'new growth point' money has come from the Leicester and Leicestershire Leadership Board and follows £2.75million allocated by the government earlier this year.

The Birstall site will link up to a new £9million, 1,000 space park and ride at Enderby which is currently being built and is due to open this winter.

Lesley Pendleton, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: "Tackling congestion is one of our main priorities and I'm delighted that we have the funding to take forward this important project.

"We are in no way “bailing out” the developer and can assure residents that no County Council money is involved, it is all Government grant. In this way, we have secured the best deal for Leicestershire at no cost to the local council taxpayer."

Leicester City Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Patrick Kitterick, said: “I am pleased that by the city and county working together, we have been able to secure the New Growth Point money to enable the Birstall park and ride scheme to happen.”

The County Council's Cabinet will be updated on the plans at a meeting next Tuesday (28th July).