07 Nov New stop for #Colchester General Hospital Park and Ride
Staff, patients and visitors to Colchester General Hospital will soon be able to take advantage of a new Park and Ride stop.
The new stop means hospital goers can now park at Essex County Council’s conveniently placed Park and Ride car park just off Junction 28 of the A12 offering 1,000 spaces.
They can then buy a day, week or monthly ticket and hop on the regular Park and Ride bus which will drop them to and from the hospital from 7am to approximately 7pm.
The stop will be situated on the Northern Approach Road, just a short walk from the main entrance. Buses are due to begin using the stop in the New Year.
A daily ticket, which allows unlimited travel throughout the day it is purchase, costs just £3 with discounted fares for under 16s. Concessionary pass holders qualify for free travel after 9am.
Cllr Eddie Johnson, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “Visiting the hospital can be a stressful time for a lot of people, even before you contemplate searching for a parking space on site.
“That is why we have introduced this new service, in partnership with Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, to ensure a cost-effective option for those visiting the hospital.
“The site is conveniently placed with a large number of parking spaces and regular buses throughout the day.
“With an all-day ticket costing just £3, we are confident that the new bus service will prove a huge hit with staff, patients and visitors alike.”
Chris Howlett, Director of Estates and Facilities at the Trust, said: “We welcome the Park and Ride service stopping at Colchester General Hospital. This will provide a convenient and affordable travel option for getting to and from the site, help to ease congestion and at the same time encourage use of more sustainable transport for local people.”
Work to build the new stop is set to begin in the coming weeks.
