Because of the huge popularity of Coventry’s Caribbean Festival, organisers expect an excellent turnout. The Council has therefore taken the reluctant decision to close the Memorial Park Car Park to Park and Ride travellers for one day only – Saturday 31 July.

The decision means that visitors to the festival will be able to park at the site but shoppers may find there is some disruption to their trip. Drivers should find long stay spaces at the Cheylesmore Car Park across the road from Little Park Street Police Station and at the Park and Ride North, operating from Courthouse Green.

Councillor John McNicholas, Chair of the Council’s Environment and Transportation Policy Team said:

"The Council realises that some people may be inconvenienced by this move and did not take the decision lightly. We hope that people will be able to make other arrangements for this one day. The Memorial Park Park and Ride is the oldest in the West Midlands metropolitan area and has been highly successful. The closure of the service for one day is far from ideal but is a compromise that will allow the Caribbean Festival to be the success we all hope it will be."

Normal service for the Park and Ride resumes on Monday 2 August. The service is normally used by 6,000 passengers per month. These passengers park for free and pay £1.00 (adult fare) to travel into town.

The Park and Ride service is a partnership between Coventry City Council, Centro and Travel West Midlands, who are all working together to improve the quality of public transport and reduce congestion in the City. Last year the three partners opened the Park and Ride North at Courthouse Green which it is hoped will, in time become as popular as Memorial Park. Northern Park and Ride will operate as normal on Saturday 31 July.