Felixstowe: Parking scheme set to boost visitor numbers

VISITORS to Felixstowe may be able to take advantage of a car park rover ticket this summer – to encourage them to spend longer enjoying the resort’s attractions.

Town councillors believe paying at each car park deters some from staying while a ticket that enables drivers to use any of the town’s car parks for just one daily fee will persuade people to have a whole day at the seaside.

The council is to ask Suffolk Coastal to bring in a six-month trial between April 1 and September 30 for a rover ticket at £4 per day to use in any of the pay-and-display car parks.

Councillor Kimberley Williams said the aim was to encourage visitors and residents to make more use of Felixstowe’s extensive attractions.

“You could go to the leisure centre for a couple of hours, then drive up to the town centre and browse the shops or have fish and chips, and then take the children for a walk on the seafront or the cliffs, and only pay for one parking ticket,” she said.

“People might be deterred from doing more than one of these activities at present if they have to pay for separate parking every time they stop.”

She hoped it might also encourage beach hut owners to come into the town to shop as well as enjoy the seafront.

Councillors agreed it was an excellent idea. Ms Williams said a six-month trial would enable them to then evaluate its success.

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