Council invests £512k to create 158 car parking spaces at Cirencester Rugby Club
Full Council has approved £192,200 in additional funding towards the development of land at Cirencester Rugby Club that will create 158 new parking spaces for permit-holders in Cirencester
Cotswold District Council has approved £192,200 in additional funding towards the development of land at Cirencester Rugby Club that will create 158 new parking spaces for permit-holders in Cirencester.
The works are scheduled to begin in February 2020 with a proposed opening in May 2020.
Among the 158 new parking spaces, the car park will include three disabled bays, five motorcycle bays and four electric vehicle bays with fast charging points.
Cllr Mark Harris, Cabinet Member for Car Parks, said: “This much needed development will allow us to create additional parking in the town centre by enabling season ticket holders to park in a more suitable location for long-stay parking.
“We want to ensure there is adequate short-stay parking available in the town centre for visitors, shoppers and residents so that people driving to the Cotswolds are able to park with ease. Given the location of the Rugby Club, we believe that the newly created spaces would be best suited to permit-style parking for commuters.
“This will mean permit holders at the rugby club will have a guaranteed space. We realise it's a bit further out of town, but the walk through the Abbey Grounds is a pleasant one and supports local and national initiatives to keep people active and healthy.”
The Council has entered into a 10-year lease agreement with the rugby club. This arrangement will see the Council operate the site for permit-holder parking from Monday to Friday and the Rugby Club would use it on weekends.
Nick Theakston, President of Cirencester Rugby Club, said: “We are fully supportive of the planned car park. Leasing our land would not just provide much needed parking for the town, but would also yield some very welcome income for the Rugby Club.
“The dedicated parking area created will present a great facility to accommodate our supporters on match days and the hundreds of minis and youth rugby parents at the weekend. The car park entrance will also provide the club with a more professional appearance, to further benefit our sponsors and members."
The development of the rugby club car park will not only improve parking in the town centre for the short-term – it will also provide valuable alternative (decant) parking during the planned construction of the Waterloo car park.
At the October 2017 full council meeting, the administration approved £320,000 towards the redevelopment of land at the rugby club. Cabinet recommended that the initial investment was topped up in December 2019, once the detailed scheme had been costed, bringing the total investment to £512,200.
For more information on CDC’s parking projects, please visit our website: https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/parking-travel-and-visitors/parking-projects/