Q-Park offers free parking at Sheffield station to combat gridlock
A company which runs a ‘forgotten’ multi-storey car park at Sheffield station is offering free parking to tackle gridlock at busy times.
Q‑Park has brought in 15 minutes of free parking at its 678-space Turner Street site after the drop-off area outside the station was closed to the public.
Under changes introduced by East Midlands Railway, the public drop-off is now on one side of Cross Turner Street and has fewer spaces.
Last year, Q-Park confirmed it offered 10 minutes’ free parking but it was not advertised on its signs or the firm’s website.
Now it is 15 minutes for people who download its app and register before entering. Otherwise, charging starts at £2 for half-an-hour.
Adam Bidder, managing director of Q-Park UK said: “Our aim is to assist with the mobility and energy transition challenges within urban environments. This innovative scheme allows rail passengers and their families access to a convenient location for drop offs that is completely stress free and also reduces congestion on Sheffield’s roads.”
Local businessman Russell Cutts previously said the “ignored” Q-Park multi-storey on Turner Street was key to solving congestion.
He said: “Drive into the Q-Park, park up, walk to the station, wait for a friend, walk back to car park with luggage, drive out, cost £2.
“The station has always been difficult to drive to yet everyone ignores the multi-storey car park next to it.”
But Steve Markham said the new approach to the car park took longer.
“It does now take an extra 15mins to get to Q-park at busy times!”
> Only black cabs can stop in the undercover area by the station doors
> The old public set-down area is now a drop-off zone for taxis and private-hire vehicles
> Public short-stay bays have been moved to Cross Turner Street
> The approach to the station is via Fornham Street, not Turner Street
> Access to the Q-Park is via Fornham and Cross Turner streets, as part of the new one-way system.