At least 6,000 cars have been taken off the roads around Keswick this summer because of the new car park at the town’s rugby club.
Opened in mid-July, a large area of Davidson Park has helped soak up some of the town’s traffic pressure, say organisers.
Anecdotal estimates suggest this summer’s staycation has seen Keswick up to 50 per cent busier due to visitors being unable or unwilling to risk a break abroad due to COVID.
But it has resulted in existing car parks struggling to cope and some motorists facing endless circulations trying to find a space.
The rugby club stepped in to offer up an under-utilised parking area to accommodate small, medium and large vehicles.
The core area has taken, give or take a few, up to 150 vehicles every day for around six weeks, said John Wilson, a member of the rugby club’s fundraising committee.
That alone would be the equivalent of 6,300 vehicles off the streets, yet it only tells half the story.
A further overspill parking area on the club’s second team pitch has also been brought into use on busy days, as have its mat-protected touchlines.
That has seen the entire rugby pitch occupied by vehicles on “exceptional” days – providing the weather is dry and the grass capable of bearing the load.
And with the added bonus that £4-a-day parking also offers a 15 per cent discount on a cruise on Derwentwater – the Park and Sail initiative looks a solid example of sustainable transport in the Lake District.
Mr Wilson met up this week with the other partners in the scheme.
Attending was Douglas Hodgson of the Keswick Launch, Vanessa Metcalfe, manager of Keswick Tourism Association, and Emma Moody, a sustainable transport adviser with the national park authority.
Mr Wilson said: “I have never seen Keswick as busy as it has been these last two years. When we are using all the space,
“I think it probably represents the biggest car park in Keswick.
“A lot that are coming here are desperate by the time they arrive and are so chuffed to find somewhere where there is actually plenty of room, and on nice days they can spill out and have picnics.
“The area has obviously been incredibly busy due to the combination of staycationers and the Keswick Convention.
“Consequently, the car parks here have been very full and very well received.”
For a car park which some visitors still don’t know about, Mr Wilson said the next step must be raising awareness of it.
“We have to remember that some visitors don’t even realise there’s a lake here, let alone a launch.”
Douglas Hodgson, of Keswick Launch, said many passengers had been parking up and walking the five or so minutes across Crow Park to reach the service.
He said: “It’s going really well and we are getting plenty of customers using the discount vouchers.”
Emma Moody, of the national park authority, is also pleased with its success.
She said: “We are delighted that the Keswick Park and Sail initiative is going so well and encouraging more people to park up for the day and enjoy the experience of travelling onwards more sustainably, reducing traffic impacts on our communities.
“We look forward to continuing to work in partnership to develop this approach further.”
