Press Release

A New Arrival For Christmas Shoppers: Take Derry Park And Ride!

Wednesday, 22 November 2006

Planning for Christmas in the city is made easy with the FREE park and ride facility which will open to the public in the Fort George site on Saturday, 25th November. By increasing the number of available car parking spaces, the FREE park and ride facility will increase the options for shoppers with a free shuttle bus service taking shoppers to and from the city centre. Welcoming the return of the Park and Ride initiative, Mayor, Councillor Helen Quigley said:

“I’m delighted that the FREE park and ride bus from Fort George is returning this year. With drop off and pick-up points along the Strand Road, Diamond and Orchard Street there's no better way to arrive in the heart of the city centre without your car. This facility is about choice for shoppers and will add to that positive shopping experience in the city centre".

Park and Ride is becoming an increasingly popular form of integrated transport provision within cities that help the shopper and the environment. This people and environment-friendly form of transport will give that extra boost to the objective of reducing traffic and environmental pollution over this busy period. The Christmas Park and Ride Scheme was developed in partnership with Roads Service, Ilex and Derry City Council. It will operate every Saturday and Sunday from 25 November 2005 until 17 December 2005 and daily from 18 to 24 December between 1200 noon and 1800 hrs. A free shuttle bus service will depart at 15 minute intervals from the Fort George Site.

Keith Cradden, Network Traffic Manager of Roads Service says the Park and Ride bus will make a big difference to inner city congestion.

“Every year this initiative becomes more popular and I’m delighted that so many shoppers take advantage of it. With so much extra traffic coming into the city centre at this time of year it can be difficult to get parked and people waste a lot of time trying to get as close to the shops as possible.

“At least by using the shuttle bus service shoppers can get in and out of the main shopping area quickly which means that everyone can cope with the added influx of traffic from visitors and Christmas deliveries.”

Adding his support to the service, Alan Armstrong, Fort George Project Manager for ILEX said:

“I’m delighted that our Park and Ride shuttle bus service has proved so popular. I’m sure that it’ll make Christmas in Derry so much easier both for shoppers and visitors.”

The Fort George Site at the junction of Strand Road and Buncrana Road is owned by the North West Development Office and managed by ILEX. The area will be lit and on site security will be provided.

Ends

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