Now open – a new public car park on the south side of the river in Bedford
Now open - a new public car park on the south side of the river in Bedford, giving visitors to Riverside Bedford and the town centre another parking option. Just like the other town centre council-run car parks, St Mary's Car Park offers free parking every Saturday for your first two hours and all day on Sunday.
Access to it is between Borough Hall and Bedford College on Cauldwell Street in Bedford. St Mary's is a relatively small car park, but it will contribute to keeping traffic out of the town centre by giving those on the south side of town an option to park before driving across the river. It's then just a very short walk over the footbridge to Riverside Bedford and the town centre. It also provides another option for those who prefer 'surface' parking to multi-storeys.
Alongside the free parking offers through the week, new CCTV in multi-storeys and new signage with 'real-time' information, we're working to make parking in Bedford easier, safer and affordable.
With stories in the national media almost daily about chain stores closing and UK high streets' footfall falling, it's one part of the mix in supporting our excellent local traders. They've helped Bedford to buck the trend with four straight years of footfall growth, and we're working to help them succeed in a tough wider environment, and to make our town centre an attractive and enjoyable place to visit.