Stratford Park and Ride – a customer’s viewpoint
Stratford Park and Ride, Warwickshire’s first park and ride scheme, has won glowing praise in the first week since its official launch.
The hassle free transport option for shoppers and commuters has received unprompted praise from daytripping pensioners David and Joan Hewston, who travelled to Stratford upon Avon from Solihull in their car.
Mr Hewston said: “We are both pensioners aged 68 and 70 from Solihull, and have shopped in Stratford upon Avon many many times, but always had to search for a parking space - although I do have a blue disabled badge.
“Not needing to watch the clock for fear of overstaying your parking time is a major advantage with the Warwickshire County Council park and ride scheme. Also the bus delivers us to the exact area we wish to visit so no long treks to reach any particular shops. We have used similar schemes in both Oxford and York, and it’s great to see this one available in Stratford.
“We were most satisfied with the service. Everyone was very friendly and polite and the complete service was most efficient. The buses were obviously provided for the job and handled people with different ailments and amounts of shopping in first class style. The drivers were very smart and polite as
well as helpful. All in all it was a memorable experience and one we will
repeat next time we visit Stratford on Avon.
“Warwickshire County Council is to be congratulated on the efficiency of the scheme, its design and implementation. Of course, having no time limit on the free parking does mean it can hit the credit card hard with shopping all day in Stratford, but I suppose that’s all to the advantage of the local economy!”
Stratford Park and Ride is based at Bishopton off the A46 and provides buses (provided by Johnsons Quality Coach Travel) every ten minutes into the centre of Stratford, it’s completely free to park, and a return ticket is just £1.30 – or completely free if you already hold a concessionary bus pass.
The scheme forms a key element of Warwickshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan, which over the next five years seeks to improve people’s access to services and facilities while managing our impact on society, the environment, our economy and resources.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Environment Portfolio Holder said: “I’m delighted with the comments of real customers using our service just a week after the official launch. People often seem quick to complain, and it’s reassuring to see this kind of positive feedback when someone is pleased with a service.
“We realise park and ride is not a quick fix solution to traffic congestion in Stratford, but the official launch is a welcome first step in tackling traffic congestion and the environmental and economic impact this can have on a town.
“Traffic problems are already an issue in Stratford. Our responsibility is to anticipate the problem of increasing traffic congestion over the next five years. Our LTP anticipates the growth of traffic, from both residents and visitors to Stratford, therefore we must act now.”
Despite the scheme only officially launching last week, it has already won a prestigious environmental award, and has seen usage numbers increase month on month with more than 9,000 people using park and ride into Stratford in June.
The county council’s Local Transport Plan specifically links Park and Ride with its Decriminalisation of Parking scheme in Stratford. This is because similar schemes operating in Cambridge, York, Nottingham, Chester, Oxford and Coventry have delivered a shift from vehicle congested urban centres to sustainable public transport. In achieving this they have also created a better, safer, cleaner environment for everyone to enjoy.