Work on the new and improved car park facilities will begin on Monday 4th January and are due to be complete by early February. During the renovation time there will be no time restrictions or charges in place for the entire car park. Throughout this period the car park will remain open, apart from on Sunday 31st January, when it will be closed to allow the resurfacing works at the entrance and exit to take place.

The work will involve the entire car park having all lines repainted; the ground floor will also be repainted to create a bright and more attractive environment for shoppers; and the lights will all be replaced to further brighten the car park. 13 new parent and child parking bays will also be introduced on the ground floor.

Once the car park reopens, customers will no longer need to obtain a ticket, as the system will be automated, and a new pricing scheme will be introduced. The benefits of the new system include free parking for the first three hours, an extension of the current two hours. After three hours, the rates have been reduced from current prices with an extra hour being 50p (currently £1) and all day parking for just £2, which is £1.50 cheaper than it is at the moment. Shoppers wishing to stay longer than three hours can simply pay when they leave. The car park is also free of time restrictions and charges on Sundays and every day after 6pm.

Centre Manager at the Horsefair, Kevin Smith, commented: “The renovation works and changes to the car park will be a great way for us to start 2016! Parking here won’t just be cheaper but it will also be easier. Plus it’s going to be a much brighter, smarter looking car park”.

The parking scheme will mean that disabled blue badge holders will be under the same regulations as all other cars.