Town Centre Car Parks To Remain Free In June

Published on: 3 Jun, 2020
Updated on: 5 Jun, 2020

Castle Car Park free of charge until July.

All council-owned car parks in Guildford town centre are to remain free of charge throughout June as some shops and businesses start to re-open in line with new government guidance.

Charges for ticketed on-street parking controlled by Surrey County Council will be reintroduced on June 15 but parking in the market place spaces in North Street will remain free this month.

Guildford Borough Council is working in collaboration with its Business Improvement District, Experience Guildford, and town centre partners to “reassure residents” once businesses begin to re-open from Monday, June 15.

Parking charges are expected to return from Wednesday, July 1, but Farnham Road Car Park will remain free to provide parking for key workers. Allocated spaces will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

A council spokesperson further clarified: “Spaces on North Street are a car park owned by GBC, and not part of the public highway. Therefore they will remain free until 1 July.

“Charging for other on-street parking spaces, which are managed by Surrey County Council, is planned to begin again on 15 June.”

“We are encouraging workers and visitors to use our car parks, and keep on-street locations available for shorter visits.”

The Artington Park and Ride service will continue to operate. The Merrow service is due to recommence from June 15. Capacity will be increased to meet rises in demand.

Cllr James Steel

Lead councillor for Parking, James Steel (Lib Dem, Westborough) said: “We will work with Experience Guildford and our local businesses to ensure that safety is paramount and all government guidelines are followed to give people the confidence to return to our town centre.

“We have been extremely proud to do everything we can to help our residents and businesses get through the coronavirus pandemic, and as we begin to take the first steps back towards normality we want to maintain that level of commitment. It is essential that we support our key workers in doing their vital work, and I am delighted that we can continue to provide free parking for them.

“Economic recovery is one of the key factors in how the UK emerges from this pandemic and with Guildford being one of the top shopping destinations in the South-East I look forward to the town being at the forefront of that recovery.”

Amanda Masters

Amanda Masters, Chief Executive of Experience Guildford says: “We are here to help shoppers as much as possible, whilst at the same time supporting our wonderful local businesses.

“We are excited to be able to welcome people back to Guildford town centre but recognise that recovery will be a gradual process, and hope that free parking throughout June will encourage more people back. I am, though, confident that we will all soon be able to enjoy everything which makes Guildford so special again.”