23/02/22: Car park trial aims to help Attleborough to thrive

Residents and businesses in and around Attleborough are being reminded that a new car park trial is due to get underway on 21 March. It is expected that the new approach will create greater capacity for short-term parking in the town, which will increase the number of visitors who can shop on the town's high streets each day.

While a limit on the maximum stay is being put in place, the car park will remain free of charge and the council's other local car parks will remain available for long-stay use, alongside privately-run car parks. 

The six-month trial will see a free three-hour stay,  with no return within one hour, imposed between 08:00 and 18:00, Monday to Saturday, with allowances made for the market traders using the marked market trader bays on Thursdays.

Cllr Paul Hewett, Breckland's Executive Member for Property and Projects commented: "Breckland Council is delighted to be working in partnership with Attleborough Town Council to establish this new parking trial for Attleborough's Queens Square car park, which we expect will help increase high street footfall and boost trade for local retailers. This new trial, which is part of our Thriving Breckland programme, will examine how the three-hour free parking can help develop a churn in spaces in the car park, increase footfall into the town and bring in more shoppers from further afield, attracted by more accessible free parking and a wide range of independent stores."

Cllr Philip Leslie, Mayor of Attleborough commented: "We recognise that parking, and the availability of parking for all who use the town centre, is long overdue. We welcome this car park trial which aims to examine if more people will visit the town by using a short stay car park at Queen's Square. We understand that this trial may highlight wider transport issues, including those who travel to work in the town and are unable to travel by any other means than by car, or wish to use the bus to travel into Norwich, encouraging more sustainable transport modes. As such as a Town Council we wish to develop a town wide car parking strategy, as set out in our Neighbourhood Plan, and in partnership with Breckland Council. In doing so we can look at the wider effects and potential impacts of parking elsewhere, but also what opportunities there are to encourage more people accessing the Town Centre by more sustainable modes, walking and cycling, where possible".

During the trial the impact of the enforced time-limit will be reviewed, and a final decision will then be made on whether to make this change permanent after six months.