Northgate End multi-storey: New Bishop's Stortford car park attracts daily average of 180 drivers in first week

The opening of Bishop's Stortford's new multi-storey car park saw an average of more than 180 motorists a day using it in the first week.

The car park at Northgate End was opened on Monday June 13 to coincide with closure of the Causeway and Charringtons car parks, which will eventually make way for the Old River Lane arts centre-led development.

At 573 parking bays, including 54 for electric vehicles and 31 for disabled drivers, the multi-storey provides the town centre with 89 extra spaces.

Cllr Graham McAndrew, East Herts Council's executive member for environmental sustainability, said: “Initial figures indicate there was increased usage across the week with an average 183 users Monday to Friday and over 300 users on Saturday June 18 [carnival day], as residents began to use the new modern multi-storey car park facility at Northgate End.”

The new car park has drawn a mixed reception from drivers, with some concerned the lanes are too tight at the entrance for modern cars and on the ramps to the upper floors.

One driver asked whether the car park had been built with a "1960s Mini in mind". Another resident felt it was too far for a disabled person to walk from the car park to the town centre.

But others were happier, with one Facebook poster commenting it was "nice and spacious".