East Suffolk Council
Car parks
The council provides many car parks (off-street parking places) across the district, so those choosing to drive may park appropriately once at their destination ensuring minimal disruption for the local communities. Parking places are provided in rural and coastal locations as well as towns, so visitors arriving by car can access Suffolk’s beautiful countryside and coastline, and all the retail, leisure and services provided by its towns.
The council provide several cashless providers which allows drivers to locate a parking place before starting their journey, receive navigation to it, pay for their parking session and even extend it should they need to. Find out more about registering and using the services from the providers listed below.
Local authority off-street parking places are managed under relevant sections of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and in East Suffolk, patrolled and enforced where necessary via Civil Parking Enforcement powers provided by Statutory Instrument 2020 No. 14 - The Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions Designation Order 2020.
The full list of and the rules and regulations for the council’s off-street parking places are provided by the Off-street Parking Places Order 2020 and the East Suffolk Council (Off-Street Parking Places) (Amendment No. 1) Order 2021.
Many of the parking places have public toilets in or adjacent to them, and some have small glass and textile recycling points.
Supporting the retail and business community
It is often said that free parking is required to support local businesses, however, this is a common misconception and East Suffolk Means Business provides information and services that support local businesses.
Our Economic Development and Regeneration team commissioned People & Places to understand the trends and travel for individual town centres in East Suffolk. The surveys revealed not everyone visiting town centres travels to them by car, and many walk, cycle or use public transport. Transport professionals speak of mobility, and car travel is one part of a mobility system that includes all modes of travel e.g. walking, cycling, bus, train and car. The Way To Go Suffolk website helps individuals make informed decisions about how they choose to travel.
