A new park and ride service launches in Whitstable this weekend, supported by the Gazette.

The trial service, operated by Kent Top Travel and managed by Canterbury City Council, costs just £1 for adults, 50p for children under 16 and free for children under five.

Buses will run approximately every 15 minutes from 8am to 7pm from Saturday, July 11 for nine weekends until Sunday, September 5, with additional services on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31.

Launching the service at Gazette House, city council cabinet member for highways and transportation, Cllr Mike Patterson looked forward to the first weekend.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we have finally got this scheme off the ground.

“We have been trying for a long time to introduce a park and ride service for Whitstable and thanks to the generosity of the Whitstable Gazette, we have been able to find a place to run it from.

“I’m sure it will have huge benefits to both the environment and to the town itself. We do have a shortage of parking in the area during the busy summer months and it will be good for visitors and local people alike.”

Park and ride officer Colin Perris admitted the service is desperately needed.
He said: “The town has a significant problem with congestion in the High Street during the summer and this will help relieve that pressure.”

A fleet of three 14-seater buses will shuttle passengers between Gazette House, Boorman Way, Estuary View Business Park and The Horsebridge Centre, with additional stops at the library in both directions.

Mr Perris admitted should the trial be successful, an extended service could return later in the year.

He added: “We’ll obviously need to get the results of how many people have used it, but using technology fitted on the buses, we’ll be able to do that fairly quickly.

“Hopefully we could get it up and running as soon as this Christmas with a view to also running an extended service next summer.”

There will be 80 parking spaces available at Gazette House, with an additional 100 at the George Wilson car park next door.

Fares include all day travel, but will only be available to customers who buy a ticket at the Gazette House car park.

No foot passengers will be allowed onboard without a park & ride ticket.

Entry to the park and ride site will be signposted from all major routes into Whitstable.