Centrica Park and Ride - up and running from this weekend

It's all systems go for the Centrica park and ride scheme in time for the busy Easter and May bank holiday weekends following last weekend's postponement.

The popular park and ride takes to the roads on Good Friday (22 April) for a second summer season with no increase in charges - enabling residents and visitors to enjoy a day in Windsor for as little as £2 in parking.

Launched last summer - and also operated in the run-up to Christmas - the park and ride will once again operate from Centrica in Maidenhead Road and take passengers direct to Peascod Street in the centre of Windsor. The FREE bus service is available from 10am to 6pm with buses running every 15 minutes.

Starting this weekend (22 -25 April) the service will run on the Royal Wedding bank holiday on April 29, both May bank holiday weekends and the weekend at the end of the school half-term in June. Thereafter it will operate every weekend from the beginning of the school summer holidays in July to the beginning of September when schools re-open.

The service, operated by Courtney Coaches, will run on the following days:

• April 22, 23, 24, 25, 29 and 30
• May 1, 2 and 30
• June 4 and 5
• July 23, 24, 30 and 31
• August 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 and 29
• September 3 and 4.

Charges - which remain the same as last year - will be via pay and display in the Centrica car park. A stay of up to four hours will be £2.50 (£1 with Advantage Card). For stays longer than four hours the fee is £4 (£2 with Advantage Card).

The barrier to allow vehicles in will be raised at 10am and be lowered at 7pm, by which time all cars must be removed.

Stephen Brown, Head of Highways and Engineering, said: "This is a particularly good deal for Royal Borough residents who can use their Advantage Card to spend all day in town for just £2.

"It also provides a cheaper alternative to town centre car parks for part-time workers and visitors to Windsor - and with lovely weather forecast for this coming Easter weekend we expect town centre car parks to fill up quickly.

"We would like to thank Centrica and their staff for supporting us and enabling us to offer the park and ride at their premises - and we hope employers will encourage their staff to take advantage of this excellent service."

The car park is patrolled by the council's parking team while in use as a park and ride. Community wardens will also carry out courtesy visits.

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