In line with government guidance and to assist key workers during the COVID-19 pandemic there has been no charge to park in the district’s 27 Council operated car parks. Now with the announcement that non-essential shops and businesses will be opening from 15 June, Councillors have made the decision not to reintroduce tariffs until 1 August to encourage local people to come back to the high streets after many weeks of closure.

Warwick District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Business, Councillor Richard Hales commented;

“The past three months have been tough for our retailers, particularly those who have been forced to close completely. The Council is now doing everything it can to support our local economy as businesses start to reopen. I very much hope that residents will take advantage of the extended free parking in and around our town centres, to go back to their favourite shops, especially our many small independents who have been hardest hit.”

Warwick District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services, Councillor Moira-Ann Grainger added;

“Those coming in by car are advised to use the long-stay car parks, as we will be taking steps to ensure that the short-stay parking spaces closest to the main shopping areas are left free for the disabled and those with restricted mobility.

"We have welcomed the considerable reduction in traffic in our town centres during the lock-down period and the sharp increase in cyclists and we hope that the temporary traffic measures put in place will allow this to continue.”

Places to park

Short stay car parks

We're prioritising short stay car parks for the disabled and those with restricted mobility as they are closest to the town centre car parks. These are:

• New Street (Warwick) - max stay 3 hours
• Westgate (Warwick) - max stay 3 hours
• Chandos Street (Leamington) - max stay 4 hours
• Bedford Street (Leamington) - max stay 4 hours
• Covent Garden Surface Car Park (Leamington) - max stay 4 hours

All other car parks are long stay and can be used if you're going to be parking longer than 4 hours.

Car Park locations

• Leamington Car Parks
• Warwick Car Parks
• Kenilworth Car Parks

On-street parking

On-street parking is managed by Warwickshire County Council; charges and maximum stay times apply.

More information about on-street parking.

Town centre support

The Executive Director of Bid Leamington, Stephanie Kerr commented;

“As we gradually transition to opening, we want to ensure everyone has a positive experience in the town centre so we welcome this proposal. Given there will be road layout changes in Leamington, free parking in WDC off-street car parks will release roadside space and support customers and staff returning to local businesses. Accordingly, surface car parks will remain short-stay for shoppers, and provide disabled parking while the multi-storey car parks remain best suited those wishing to park all day.”

The Chair of the Royal Leamington Spa Chamber of Trade, Hayley Key commented;

“Extending the free parking through the whole of July will give a vital boost to those retail business that have been struck very hard by the covid-19 lockdown. We hope to see our town bustling again with shoppers soon, all be it at a social distance!”

The Chair of Kenilworth Chamber of Trade Sarah Kershaw, commented;

“Many Kenilworth businesses have really risen to the challenge whilst in lockdown; using their initiative; diversifying their businesses and taking opportunities that come their way to ensure their businesses survive.  We want to support these businesses as much as possible and by proposing to extend the free car parking until August is a great way to ensure that we are making our regular and new visitors feel more than welcome. We can’t wait to see them!”

The Chair of the Warwick Chamber of Trade, Sue Butcher commented;

“Warwick’s many small independent shops and businesses have been hit badly by the lockdown, the extension of free parking is in our off-street carparks is therefore very much welcomed. I hope that this will encourage people to come back into our town again and once again enjoy our wonderful mix of outlets.”

The Council is working alongside colleagues from Warwickshire County Council on temporary road closures and traffic restrictions in Leamington Spa, Warwick and Kenilworth, which will allow for social distancing measures to be put in place outside shops and to accommodate those coming into the town centres by bicycle or on foot.

While parking is free, maximum stay restrictions will still apply and the Council’s Rangers will continue to patrol the car parks to ensure that motorists are parking sensibly within the allocated spaces.