School children and parents are being courted by transport chiefs keen to make Worcester’s new park-and-ride a success. The council is offering a Scholar's Saver for £40 a term and urging parents to leave their children at Perdiswell rather than entering the city centre. Letters have been distributed to mums and dads, touting the offer.

“A drop-off zone has been created at the park-and-ride by the traffic lights, so parents don't have to enter the controlled part of the site,” said Mark Hudson, the passenger transport manager at County Hall.

“Travel will be very convenient for pupils at schools such as Alice Ottley and commuters will be able to take advantage of the service by travelling to Forgage Street railway station - where there isn't any parking.”

The county council, which has clubbed together with the city council to pay for the £2.5m scheme, has warned that police will clamp down on drivers who flout the bus-lane regulations.

“The traffic must flow,” said Councillor Colin Beardwood, spokesman for economic development at County Hall. He said the aim was to take 500 vehicles a day out of the centre of Worcester.

The first buses will roll on to the A38 next Tuesday, April 17th. Travel until Saturday, April 21st will be free, with Crowngate shopping centre shouldering the cost.

Worcestershire County Council is applying to the Government for “Secure Car Park” status at Perdiswell. It wants to pledge that motorists can “park with peace of mind” due to patrols, lighting and CCTV.

The Perdiswell site is one of three proposed for the city. The county council hopes to have picked at least one other site by the end of 2002. Grove Farm, land near the Ketch and a site close to the new hospital have all been mentioned in the past as possible locations.

Bus stops in Worcester that form part of the new northern park-and-ride service are to feature purple and orange logos. Buses running to and from Perdiswell are to be painted in the orange, purple and white scheme as well.

Source: Worcester Evening News, 10th April 2001

First Midland Red have won the contract to operate the north Worcester Park and Ride. They will be operating five new low floor Dennis Darts on the service. [ Vehicle Information ]

• First Midland Red to operate contract (12th April 2000)
• Calls for more Park+Ride sites (18th January 2002)