St. Marys car park, Colchester
Ipswich/Colchester: Towns go head-to-head in parking battle
By Paul Geater
Monday, October 22, 2012
6:09 PM
TWO of the largest towns in the region are preparing for parking wars as they battle for shoppers during the run-up to Christmas.
Colchester has announced it is to cut the price of parking in one of the town’s largest multi-storeys, while bosses at Ipswich insist it is still the cheapest large town for car parking in the region.
Colchester Borough Council announced this week that its St Mary’s car park with 617 spaces was cutting its prices by more than ten per cent from November 14.
However a borough council spokesman said an hour at St Mary’s after the reductions would cost £1.80 – 80p more than the same time at the Crown Car Park.
He said: “We still have very good parking offers here in Ipswich. It is the cheapest of the large towns in the area and I am sure people will use the parks during the Christmas period.”
At Colchester, the council is also hoping to encourage shoppers. A spokeswoman said: “As has happened in our other car parks, the new St Mary’s rates are sure to attract even more residents and visitors from neighbouring towns to choose Colchester and our car parks for their Christmas shopping and celebrations, and for days or evenings out year-round.”
Paul Clement of Ipswich Central said it was vital to offer good value parking. “It is ridiculous to think you can have a growing town centre while trying to keep cars away.
“Ipswich has some good offers – but there’s still a lot more to do and we have to make the point to car park operators that if you lower the prices and get more motorists using the park, it is good for the operator and good for the economy of the town as a whole.”
Is parking too pricey in Ipswich? E-mail starnews@archant.co.uk
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11 comments
It comes down to one rule: use your town or lose it. For those who say they won't use the town, why comment? It's a bit like people who don't vote moaning about politicians.
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Scott Brock
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
"He said: “We still have very good parking offers here in Ipswich." Is this the same borough council that closed the Norwich rd park and ride facility a few years ago?
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George Bogdanovic
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
So now Ipswich is trying to get cars INTO the town centre? I thought the grand scheme was to eliminate vehicles so that people would cycle everywhere - perhaps they have finally conceded the idea of shoppers filling their saddlebags with merchandise and cycling around in the rain is unfeasible? And I love what you did last christmas with parking wardens walking around at 9pm at night in the pitch black ticketing a load of christmas shoppers that had parked on double yellow lines. I'm sure that left a lovely taste in shopper's mouths and that they will be falling over one another to return to pay some more stealth taxes. Dream on Ipswich, I'd rather eat my own hand than venture your way.
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IpswichResident
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Ipswich is a cesspit why would anyone even park here for free ? I would pay the extra to drive and park in Colchester anyday of the week
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the opinion man
Monday, October 22, 2012
I think that car parking charges in Ipswich are a mute point. As a shopping centre it must now rate as possibly the worst in East Anglia so I say let those that want to buy a mobile phone, visit a charity shop or a pound shop pay silly parking prices. I will not be amongst that ever dwindling number. Oh by the way, whats happened to the Cornhill regeneration?
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how'd the town do
Monday, October 22, 2012
Please do not be too harsh of on Ipswich town centre. I happen to like looking in empty shops and smelly alleyways
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Barnacle
Monday, October 22, 2012
“It is ridiculous to think you can have a growing town centre while trying to keep cars away.” So is that why they’re ruining the Civic Drive roundabout, the only part of town where traffic was flowing freely and easily? Sorry, but I shan't be shopping in Ipswich if they're idea of progress is more traffic lights.
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Mike Rotch
Monday, October 22, 2012
hahahaha so funny i nearly fell off my chair with laughter, ipswich cheap for parking where did they come up with that then, i know where i be doing my christmas shopping and it wont be ipswich, i would rather pay slightly higher parking fees in colchester and have more shops to choose from than pay overpriced parking in ipswich with hardly any decent shops.
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maria stu
Monday, October 22, 2012
SUNDAY SHOULD BE FREE PARKING ANYWHERE IN THE TOWN CENTRE TO ENCOURAGE SHOPPERS BACK
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MIGUEL100
Monday, October 22, 2012
Ipswich reasonable for car parking charges and good deals.....where does this spokesman from the council get their info from. There are some car parks a brisk walk from the town centre that are reasonable but as for the town centre ones a big rip off and when you've lots of shopping and heavy bags to carry you don't want to walk miles to get to your car.
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Janina Beckett
Monday, October 22, 2012
Make bus fares affordable then you wont need to reduce the car park costs!!
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Victor Meldrew
Monday, October 22, 2012