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Drivers can enjoy free parking at Metro’s big new park-and-ride car park at Northumberland Park, when it opens on December 1. The 400-space multi storey close to the A19 and A186 will be free to use throughout the Christmas period as a special introductory offer. From Northumberland Park the centre of Newcastle is just 18 minutes away by Metro, making park and ride the easy option for commuters and shoppers. Silverlink retail park is just a few minutes away on the frequent, modern, Route 19 bus using a traffic-beating priority route to beat the jams. Northumberland Park park-and-ride will open on December 1 right next to the Metro station opened in December 2005, a new Sainsbury superstore and local shops. Parking will be free until January 5, when a flat rate £1 a day fee will be introduced. Bernard Garner, Director General of Nexus, said: “Free parking for a month is a great way for people to experience the convenience and quality Northumberland Park offers. “The car park stands between Metro, a supermarket and other shops and is in the ideal place for commuters now struggling on the A19 or A186. “We expect it to be popular with people travelling into Newcastle from the Whitley Bay, Monkseaton and South East Northumberland.” Northumberland Park was the 59th station on Metro when it opened in December 2005. It was developed and part-funded as part of the Stephenson Link project which aims to stimulate economic regeneration on both sides of the river Tyne, along the A19 corridor. Funding for the whole project, including the new park-and-ride facility, was provided by Northumberland Estates (£3.35m), Bellway Homes (£1.6m) and from the Local Transport Plan (£800,000). The 400-space multi-storey car park, which also includes CCTV security, cycle parking lockers and racks, was built by Northumberland Estates and will be leased by Nexus, which owns, operates and is modernising the entire Metro system.
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