Enjoy Christmas shopping with park and walk in Bury St Edmunds

Christmas shoppers in Bury St Edmunds will have even more choice on where to park at weekends thanks to Greene King and West Suffolk Council.

Greene King is making 200 spaces at its car park off Cullum Road available for parking every Saturday and Sunday from 30 November through to 22 December.

The car park, which will be open from 8am to 5pm, is around 10 to 15 minutes’ walk from the town centre.

A Greene King spokesperson said: “We really want everyone to enjoy the festive spirit in Bury and are pleased to open up our car park for residents, visitors and shoppers without any cost again this year. Christmas is all about community and celebrating together and we hope everyone will be making the most of the great selection of shops, pubs and restaurants in the town.”

West Suffolk Council is also promoting the availability of spaces at its car park in Olding Road. The car park, which is 10-15 minutes’ walk from the town centre, is available every weekend throughout the year and provides another 300 spaces.

Both the Olding Road and Greene King car parks are available in addition to the town centre car parks to ensure there’s enough spaces in place to meet demand during the weekends up to Christmas, when the town is at its busiest. There’s no charge to use either of the Greene King or Olding Road car parks.

EcoCarriers BSE will also be providing a weekend service, offering environmentally friendly pedicab rides to and from the Greene King and Olding Road car parks to the town centre. The service will be free, but donations are welcome.

Libby Ranzetta, one of the founders of the award-winning social enterprise, said: “We are delighted to welcome visitors to our beautiful town and to support Christmas in Bury St Edmunds. EcoCarriers BSE already supports a range of town centre businesses throughout the year with deliveries, and our Shop&Drop same-day shopping delivery service for residents. We all know how important and busy a time of year Christmas is for our town centre and so we are pleased to be able to offer this festive service for the second year running.”

Cllr Indy Wijenayaka, Cabinet Member for Growth at West Suffolk Council, said: “The countdown to Christmas has begun and with it the busiest time of year for many of the town centre’s shops, restaurants, cafes and more.

“It’s a wonderful time of year with lots of fun events from our town centre partners to bring festive cheer to our communities from across West Suffolk and to the tills of local businesses.

“That’s why I am so delighted to have the support of Greene King, one of the town’s biggest employers, in once again showing their support for Bury St Edmunds town centre businesses at this important and very special time of the year.

“It will help us ensure that even when the town is at its busiest, there are enough spaces for people to park, whether they are travelling in from across the district or from further afield, helping us meet demand during this magical festive season.

“And I am absolutely delighted that EcoCarriers BSE will be offering a pedicab service from both the Greene King and Olding Road car parks into the town centre. This will be especially welcome by visitors who are less mobile and so a huge thank you to EcoCarriers BSE for its continuing support.”

To discover all that is going on in Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding area from November please visit the Bury St Edmunds and Beyond website.

For more on town centre parking in Bury St Edmunds visit the West Suffolk Council website.