Changes to city's park and ride come into force

Changes to a city's park and ride service are coming into force.

Buses at all five sites in Norwich will operate earlier in the morning, later in the evening and on Sundays.

Norfolk County Council said the "enhanced" provision followed a re-tendering process at the end of last year.

To mark the changes, all park and ride services, excluding Costessey, are free to passengers on the first day of the new arrangements.

Graham Plant, a Conservative councillor and cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: "The Norwich Park & Ride service is an important part of our transport plan for Norfolk and it gives people a great value and greener option for getting into Norwich.

"During these difficult financial times, we made it our ambition to find a solution so that this service could be run without any subsidy.

"We've not only achieved that, but we're also giving people what they asked for from the service, which is earlier and later buses and Sunday services."

From Sunday, First Bus will run a fully-electric service for Norwich Airport, Thickthorn and Sprowston, while Simonds, a Diss-based bus firm, will provide journeys for Harford and Postwick.

The council had previously announced plans to close the Postwick site, which was used as a medical testing centre during the Covid-19 pandemic, due to low passenger numbers, but decided on a U-turn in 2023 following requests by local villages.

Later that year, Mr Plant warned that the park and ride network could close permanently if passenger numbers did not grow.

The council said adult fares would remain £3 thanks to funding from the government.

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