With the Phase 5c COVID-19 testing facility on the East Arm becoming operational this week, changes have been made to parking time limits in order to help maintain a balance between long-term and short-term parking at Crown Pier, Albert Pier and North Beach.
Earlier in the year, when social distancing measures were still in place, changes were made to a number of parking bays at these car parks, switching them from 2-hour to 3-hour time limits. This was in recognition of the fact that it would likely take people more time to shop with the necessary restrictions on the numbers of customers allowed into a shop at a given time and the resulting queues.
When social distancing requirements were removed, it was decided that these parking time limit changes should remain at 3-hours in order to support the hospitality sector. However, with the Phase 5c COVID-19 testing facility in place, there are now fewer long-term parking spaces in Town, meaning another review of the parking time limits was necessary.
Approximately 80 3-hour spaces have now been designated as 10-hour in order to redress the balance following the need to use the long-term spaces at the East Arm for a COVID-19 testing facility. In addition, the parking spaces switched to 3-hour time limits earlier in the year have now been reverted back to 2-hour spaces. This is to help increase turnover of vehicles so that shoppers/visitors to Town are better able to find a short-term parking space. Some temporary signage has been placed out to notify of the changes.
