Parking at Crown Glass Shopping Centre in Nailsea will no longer be free, as the centre introduces parking charges starting this July. The decision comes in response to North Somerset Council’s recent policy to implement parking fees across several public car parks in the area.
The council rolled out charges last October for eight free car parks and certain on-street locations in Clevedon, Nailsea, and Portishead. These charges are being introduced in phases, with the Crown Glass Centre aligning its fees to match the council’s tariffs.
Typically, parking costs are set at £1 for one hour, £1.50 for two hours, £2.50 for three hours, and £3.50 for a full day, though some locations, like Portishead’s Lake Grounds, have higher rates. Importantly, Sundays remain free of charge.
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Philip Ross, asset manager at Praxis Real Estate, which owns the Crown Glass Centre, emphasized the difficult nature of the decision. “We have always been proud to offer free parking in Nailsea, supporting both our retailers and the wider community,” he said. “However, with the council’s new parking policies, we must protect the convenience, availability, and accessibility of our car park for genuine shoppers.”
To enforce the new system, the shopping centre will implement an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, ensuring smooth and reliable charge collection.
The move aims to prevent misuse of parking spaces by non-shoppers seeking free parking, ensuring the car park remains accessible and convenient for customers visiting the centre.