Arle Court Transport Hub

A bus at the facility in 2007

Arle Court Transport Hub (previously known as Arle Court Park and Ride) is a park and ride facility on the outskirts of Cheltenham, England.[1][2]

History

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From 13 May 2019, drivers have been required to enter their car registration number to receive a parking ticket which must be scanned on a bus service. The change was introduced to prevent people from parking at the facility and walking to nearby businesses, leaving no spaces available for bus users.[3]

In March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, route 93 was temporarily withdrawn, with route 94 being diverted to serve the facility instead.[4] Later that year, sixty car parking spaces were removed to make room for a construction compound. The compound will be used for the widening of the adjacent A40 road.[5][6]

Facilities

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The park and ride has parking for both cars and bicycles.[7]

Services

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Stagecoach West took over bus services on 14 May 2018, operating route 93.[8] Previously, it was operated by Bennetts.[9] From 27 November 2022 to 25 November 2023, Bennetts took over the Park and Ride service, renumbered to route 100. This is after Stagecoach stopped operating the 93 service due to staffing issues.[10] Stagecoach took over route 100 on 27 November 2023 after the contract was retendered one year later.[11]

From August 2017, service 99 began calling at the park and ride. It runs from Gloucester Transport Hub to the centre of Cheltenham via Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital.[12]

Future plans

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In July 2021, Gloucestershire County Council announced plans to upgrade the park and ride facility at a cost of £20 million. The plans include a waiting room, secure bicycle parking, 100 electric vehicle charging points, and solar panels to power the site.[13] A multistorey car park is also now being built, which will double the number of car parking spaces at the site, and will include other facilities including a waiting area and refreshments. The new car park is due to open in 2024.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Arle Court Park and Ride to get a £20million upgrade". Gloucestershire News Service. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  2. ^ Jenkins, Robin (5 August 2021). "Arle Court £20m project could see multi-storey car park created". Retrieved 29 October 2021 – via PressReader.
  3. ^ Norris, Phil (12 May 2019). "How major changes at this park and ride will work from Monday". GloucestershireLive. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  4. ^ Charles, Jessica (28 March 2020). "Changes to bus timetables". Cotswold Journal. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  5. ^ Hall, Matt (16 July 2020). "Cheltenham's Arle Court Park & Ride to temporarily lose 60 spaces". Punchline. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  6. ^ Ladd, Sophie (13 July 2021). "£20 million green transformation for Arle Court Park and Ride". Punchline. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Park & Ride: Gloucester and Cheltenham". Gloucestershire County Council. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  8. ^ Winter, Bethany (4 September 2018). "Park and ride service is extended". Punchline. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  9. ^ Gibbon, Tom (8 July 2017). "'Livid' commuters hit by 'cynical' park and ride price hike". GloucestershireLive. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  10. ^ Jenkins, Robin (21 November 2022). "Park and ride 'saved' as new bus operator announced". GloucestershireLive. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  11. ^ Garcia, Carmelo (17 November 2023). "Fears as park and ride to be run by Stagecoach a year after they axed the route". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  12. ^ "New 99 shuttlebus service launches". Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 9 August 2017. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Arle Court Park and Ride to get a £20million upgrade". Gloucestershire News Service. 13 July 2021. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  14. ^ Jenkins, Robin (26 July 2021). "Multi-storey car park proposed for park and ride site". GloucestershireLive. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
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