The official launch of the Park & Ride
A new free bus service bringing shoppers from High Street to Mere Park was unveiled yesterday.
After months in the planning, Mere Park Garden Centre owner, David Brierley, struck a deal with Arriva to offer the free service in a bid to get shoppers to the garden centre, as well as High Street.
The bus will operate as the normal 481 service and pick people up from High Street and leave them on Stafford Road, from 9.30am - 3.30pm, every half hour, seven days a week.
Mr Brierley also revealed this week that if the scheme is successful, next year Arriva will look at getting the bus into the Mere Park site.
With the town’s car parks very busy during the week and at weekends, it is expected that punters will use the car park at the garden centre and get the bus into town.
Launching the venture, Mr Brierley said he hopes it will do wonders for trade in town, as well as the garden centre.
“When the car parking charges were introduced we noticed our car parks filled up so we know people are willing to walk or get the bus into town.
“And with a lot of spaces filled with staff from shops, customers will know they can get parked and come into town for free.
“We have had some excellent feedback from customers and traders in town and we really want to work with the shops on the high street.
“It’s a two way thing and I hope our customers go to them as much as their customers come to us.
“We are only 900 yards away from the town centre, so it is a very convenient service and we would encourage people to use public transport, rather than drive,” said Mr Brierley.
At the launch yesterday, Town Mayor Councillor Roy Scammell said: “I hope this is going to pull shoppers from Mere Park into the town centre.
“Mere Park gets people coming from Stafford, Cannock, Wolverhampton and other areas so I’m hoping the new service will bring those people into town and help our town centre.”
Chamber of Commerce chairman, Mark Freeman, said: “Our view is that it’s a good thing.
“I know there will be some concern from High Street that it’s going to take people out of town to Mere Park but I think if you look at the problems with shoppers trying to park in town, it’s going to be good to get people into Newport.
“It a whole other market that would not come into the town centre if the service was not there.
“It’s mutually beneficial and it’s important that we join everything up in Newport.”
By Jason Lavan
