Cllr Carole Jones in Ipswich's Crown Car Park

A SNAP-SHOT survey of car parking charges in major town centres in Suffolk and Essex has shown that visitors are getting good value for money when compared to their regional neighbours.

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The EADT has looked at the cost of central car parks in Ipswich, Norwich, Cambridge, Colchester and Bury St Edmunds.

The cost of parking in central Cambridge is by far the greatest – but the city is notorious for having a very old street layout and few car parks. It has one of the longest-established and busiest park and ride services in the country.

Parking at The Mall (Castle Mall) in Norwich is slightly cheaper than in main car parks in Ipswich – but access to The Mall is difficult and it is fills up very quickly, especially at weekends.

Other central Norwich car parks are more expensive although the St Andrews car park – on the north side of the city centre – is on a par with those in Ipswich.

Colchester’s car parks charge on a similar level to Ipswich – although visitors would be best to plan out their day before deciding which to head to.

Borough-run sites tend to be cheaper for short visits – but beware if you stay more than four hours. The cost leaps from £4 to £10. The NCP site at Osborne Street, near Colchester town station, offers a better long-term deal although it is more expensive for short-term parking.

Bury St Edmunds has the cheapest parking – for both short and long term – but is a smaller town than the other regional centres surveyed.

Ipswich MP Ben Gummer said the EADT’s figures showed that Ipswich was not out of line with other regional centres – although he felt it was vital to offer drivers better car parks.

He said: “The town needs at least two more high-quality car parks which are secure and offer first-class facilities for drivers.

“I am pleased to find out that Ipswich is no more expensive than other similar centres – that message needs to get out there.

“And compared with other large towns and cities, access to the town centre is pretty good despite what some people might think.”

His views were backed up by Paul Clement from Business Improvement District company Ipswich Central. He said: “There is a perception that Ipswich is expensive for parking. These figures show that is not the case. Yes, if you compare it with smaller towns it does look more expensive – but when compared with towns and cities of a similar size, it is the same if not cheaper.

“It does need two good new permanent car parks – one on the north, probably on the Crown site linked to a re-energised Tower Ramparts, and one to the south near the Waterfront, possibly on The Link site.”

Ipswich councillor with responsibility for economic development Carole Jones said the need for two new car parks had been highlighted in the borough’s master-plan for the town centre.

She said: “I am pleased to hear about this survey. But we do need to keep a tight rein on the number of temporary car parks, which are often just lines painted on concrete and a pay and display machine.”

Ipswich, Norwich and Cambridge all have established park and ride networks. Colchester is due to establish its first park-and-ride at Cuckoo Farm, near the football stadium, later this year.

Both Mr Clement and Ms Jones urged the county council to re-open the Bury Road park-and-ride which closed last year.

But Suffolk transport spokesman Guy McGregor said the £400,000 a year cost made it unsustainable – and reopening it would put more pressure on the other two park-and-ride sites at London Road and Martlesham.