One week left for Banburyshire drivers to get free parking at Pear Tree and other park and rides to welcome visitors back to Oxford

The free parking applies to each of the city’s five park and ride sites.

Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council teamed up at the start of August to make it easier to visit the city centre, rediscover Oxford and spend money in the local economy by providing free parking at all Oxford’s five park and ride sites throughout August.

The city council waived all parking charges at its Pear Tree, Redbridge and Seacourt Park and Ride sites, while the county council did the same at its Oxford Parkway and Thornhill.

The free parking is available every day until Monday, August 31. Parking payment machines are covered to stop anyone using them.

People who have already paid for August parking in advance can request a month-long extension to their permit by emailing [email protected].

Drivers do not have to do anything new when they arrive at the Park and Ride sites – they can simply park their vehicles, put on a face covering (unless they are exempt from wearing one) and get straight on the bus. Although car parking is free, fares for the bus journeys still apply.

People are encouraged to roam through and beyond Oxford city centre to visit shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs and other businesses in local centres including Summertown, Headington and Cowley Road.

Visitors are reminded to pay attention to any measures in place locally such as one way systems and social distancing markers on pavements, and also to remember to use face masks when required and use hand sanitiser as required.

Councillor Liam Walker, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Operation and Delivery, said: “We were keen to help support local businesses by making it even easier to get into the city centre, especially while the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ offer was on.

“If you haven’t taken up the free parking offer yet, I’d urge anyone planning to drive to the city to give it a go in this last week."

Further business support

The free parking comes on top of a wide range of support that the city council has provided for businesses in Oxford, including creating zones for outdoor dining across Oxford, a one-way pedestrian flow system to help people turn to the city centre safely, new bike parking and tens of millions of pounds of financial support. The city council will be launching a publicity campaign in August to further encourage people to visit Oxford.

Councillor Tom Hayes, deputy leader and cabinet member for green transport and zero carbon Oxford, said: “Free parking at park and rides is another way in which the city council is backing buses and backing businesses. Visitors can either park and pedal to the city’s highlights, making use of the new cycle parking installed by the council or hop on a bus in the knowledge their journey will be quicker because cars are not clogging up streets.”