Hotel guests’ free parking from Easter

A six-month trial scheme offering free parking to hotel guests will be start from Good Friday.

It would mean staying visitors could park for free all weekend in Hove’s Norton Road car park.

Under the plan hotels would register the guest’s car number with the Pay by Phone service.  This would exempt them from getting a parking ticket as enforcement staff can check registered car numbers on their mobile devices.

All the hotel has to do is go onto the council’s website and fill in a simple online form at  www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/hotelparking

A 15p administration charge is expected to be borne by hotels.

Free parking for hotel guests at Norton Road would be available from 8pm on Fridays to 8am on Mondays.

Norton Road is currently operating under capacity at weekends.  Take up of the hotels offer would be monitored over the first six months to see if any adjustments were needed to preserve space for other drivers.

The council says the scheme is a novel and environmentally-friendly use for a car park and is being made possible by our use of new technology.  It is hoped it will encourage visitors to leave their cars in Hove for their stay and get about the city by bus, taxi or walking.

Lead councillor for transport Ian Davey said:  “Norton Road car park is pretty quiet at the weekends so we hope that this trial will prove successful by making better use of the facility, while helping to support local hoteliers and other businesses. Hotel visitors can leave their cars for free over the weekend and walk, or take a bus or taxi, to get around the city during their stay. This will relieve pressure on road and parking space elsewhere, particularly in the busy city centre.”