Park and ride’s return is benefit to everyone

It was both encouraging and slightly confusing to see Green councillor Andrew Harvey highlight the council’s reopening of Sturry Road Park and Ride [Gazette, April 11].

I don’t think anyone was expecting the Green Party to be suggesting subsidised Range Rovers even if the comment was tongue-in-cheek. Fortunately, our district’s Labour-led administration has a serious plan for improving ways in which everyone can move around our area.

No one’s expecting the service to be at capacity after nearly two years of being mothballed by the last administration - but on a reasonably warm Saturday morning in April outside student term time there were 50 cars in the park and ride car park, suggesting that many people living both within and outside the district have noticed the comprehensive campaign to promote its use.

A few hours later, there were 70 cars. Not bad for the first week. Testing the reinstated service, it was noted the park and ride bus into the city was half full, with many positive comments welcoming the return of the service.

It’s quick and easy to pay, and cheaper too now with the 20% residents’ discount with all day parking just £3.20. What’s more, residents with less mobility clearly appreciate the additional buses along Sturry Road. A wheelchair user was able to use the bus for a short trip to Whitefriars. Students will clearly value it when the universities return.

The Conservatives and other detractors claimed Sturry Road Park and Ride no longer paid its way after closing it during the pandemic, when fewer people were making journeys using any form of transport, let alone buses. It was a bit like the infamous Beeching closures of much of our rail network some 55 years ago when the man whose report has had such a lasting legacy deliberately sent researchers to monitor the use of rural stations at times of the day when fewer people would be using trains anyway. That’s been proven very wrong ever since.

Reopening Sturry Road Park and Ride isn’t just a case of reversing decisions made by the last council it’s about making a strong commitment to greener and more sustainable journeys for everyone who lives in our district.

Park and ride benefits people who live in the city itself, just as much as it does our district’s rural areas and coastal towns.

The return of Canterbury’s park and ride service from Sturry Road has been welcomed