Parking for contractors in Leicester
Coming soon — the new automatic bollard system and new procedures for parking for contractors in the pedestrian zone
We’ll soon be changing the procedures for parking for contractors in the pedestrian zone, because we’ve installed automatic rising bollards to control vehicle access.
Shops and businesses in the pedestrian zone recently got a postcard from us about the new procedures. The card advised them to ask the tradesperson to fill in a form online at www.leicester.gov.uk, or to ring us on 223 2148. The card also gave information about new charges to contractors.
We expected the bollards to be working in September 2008. However, due to technical problems they will not now be working until mid-October. Please watch this page for more information about when the bollards will be working, and about the new procedures.
In the meantime, contractors needing to park in the pedestrian zone should follow the existing procedures, as shown below.
Parking for contractors
If you are a tradesperson, contractor, engineer or builder and you need regular access to your vehicle (for tools, materials, etc) at the property you’re working on, you may be able to get a permit or an exemption allowing you to park in Leicester.
The permit or exemption will only be for liveried or sign written vans and only estate cars along with a laminated sign displayed to park in a particular place for a limited time.
We’ll have to decide whether you really need to have your vehicle where you’re working. Sometimes the vehicle doesn’t need to be where you’re working. For instance:
- a meter-reader doesn’t need a van; and
- a painter and decorator can unload their van, and then move it.
How to get a permit or an exemption
This depends on where you want to park:
- In the city-centre pedestrian zone
- Where there are access restrictions, or parking restrictions such as yellow lines
- In a pay-and-display area
If you’re not sure which will apply to you, please ring the parking and enforcement team on 223 2148 for advice.
Parking for contractors in the city-centre pedestrian zone
Leicester's pedestrian zone consists of the following streets:
Market Street | Silver Street | Cheapside |
High Street | Guildhall Lane | East Gates |
Shires Lane | Loseby Lane | Gallowtree Gate |
Carts Lane | Cank Street | Humberstone Gate West |
Loading and unloading hours in the pedestrian zone
In the pedestrian zone, you can load and unload without a permit during the following hours:
- Monday to Friday: 5 – 11 am, except Market Street: 5 – 10 am
- Saturday: 5 – 9 am
You might be entitled to a parking permit for loading outside the loading hours, for instance to unload glass. Please ring 223 2126 for advice.
Parking in the pedestrian zone
If we think you need to park your vehicle where you’re working, we can give you a temporary permit for a specified location. The permit allows you to park at any time of day.
At the moment, there is no charge. This is likely to change in the near future.
To find out if you are entitled to a permit to park in the pedestrian zone, please ring 223 2126. We’ll need at least one hour’s notice.
The red disk pedestrian zone permit shows the parking location (usually the street name), the vehicle registration and the expiry date.
You’ll have to collect your permit from the council offices at York House. The entrance is in York Street, near the £stretcher shop in Granby Street. If necessary, and if you give enough notice, we can post your permit.
If your vehicle has a permit, but is parked against the rules, you might get a parking ticket.
Parking for contractors where there are access restrictions, or parking restrictions such as yellow lines
Temporary permit for planned work
If you have work that you know about in advance, and we think that you need to park where you’re working, we can give you a temporary permit for a specified location.
The cost is £10 for one day and £5 for each following day.
Please call 223 2148 for advice. If we think you’re entitled to a permit, we’ll send you a form to fill in. We’ll need three days notice.
If your vehicle has a permit, but is parked against the rules, you might get a parking ticket.
Emergency call-outs
Free exemption for emergency call-out in office hours -- If you’re called to an emergency in office hours, please call 223 2148. If we agree that it’s an emergency, and that you need to park where you’re working, we’ll tell the attendants that your vehicle is exempt.
Emergency call-out outside office hours – If you’re called to an emergency outside office hours, you must decide whether to risk getting a ticket and then having to appeal. If you can prove that you had a genuine emergency, and that you had to park where you were working, your appeal will be treated sympathetically.
Parking for contractors in pay-and-display areas
Weekly permit
If we think you need to park where you’re working, we can give you a weekly permit to park in a pay-and display area. The weekly permit is for one week, from Monday to Friday only.
The cost is £20.
To get a weekly permit, please visit our customer services office and fill in a form. The conditions are that:
- The permit is for your vehicle, and is for a specific street
- Your vehicle has to be a van or estate car, and has to be liveried or show a laminated sign on the dashboard
- You genuinely need to use your vehicle at the location -- attendants will watch for “constant use”.
The Leicester City Council customer services office on the ground floor of New Walk Centre, B Block, King Street. Please call 252 7000 for advice.
If your vehicle has a permit, but is parked against the rules, you might get a parking ticket.
Free one-day exemption
If your work is for one day or less, you can get a free one-day exemption from the pay-and-display operating company. If they think you need to park where you’re working, they’ll tell the attandants that your vehicle is exempt. The conditions are the same as for the weekly permit, above.
Please call pay-and-display operator Vinci Parking Services on 299 5063.