[url= http://www.stodgell.co.uk/?p=3261 ]County Council opens new specific Mountain Bike Parking near Marquis Drive, Cannock Chase[/url]
The County Council have created a one way system through the Marquis Drive centre but have also designated a series of car parks at ‘nine gates’ approx 1/2 a kilometre down the road specifically for bikers. It is hoped that local riders will use this car park instead of Marquis Drive and relieve some of the congestion there.
The Council has added bike racks and the car park is close to the bike wash facility at the visitors centre.
Is the new car park free?
The only reason most people park along MD is to avoid car park changes.
If it's a paying car park, I'd expect no change to the congestion.
Is it free like Marquis drive?
Are they stopping parking on Marquis drive?
We go a few time over the year (as it pretty local) but tend 'now' to park in the car parks if meeting ppl, but for a quick blast round, I will use Marquis drive (or the like), as no doubt do most locals..
I'm guessing that pay and display meters will appear along the newly stoned and marked Marquis Drive, which will then lead to people parking on the grass verge on the main road for free. 😉
They do that already when it's busy. 🙂
Tbh, there are loads of little free cark parks dotted about, but they're a bit more bother and likely to be less secure.
I don't think it even needs to be busy, for them to use the verge IME
The thing is there is more than enough free parking up Cannock Chase to cater for all the riders. Its just a case of Marquis Drive is such a good place to park for everyone.
Maybe worth pointing a few out to riders who frequent the place and only use Marquis Drive. Like the two car parks less then 200m from Marquis which are barely used at all. Add to that the couple over by the Rifle range, the 'Whitehouse' carpark and then the abundance of space at the local 'Doggers' car parks.
As far as I understand it, it will be free. The county council again as far as I know have no plans to introduce any charging in their car parks on the chase as it is not economic to do so.
Going to check the new car park out on the way to Cycle shack after lunch so will take a couple of photos and update the post later
If it's free, then cheers for the PSA:
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thanks stodge, that would be cool.
FWIW...its not a new car park. Nine Gates, along with Fives Valley have been there for years. When we we're yoof's there was many a young woman deflowered up there.
Exit Marquis Drive (Visitor Center End) turn left and as you drop down the hill the entrance to car park is on your left (Nine Gates). Go down a bit further and low and behold there is another car park (Fives Valley)
FWIW - I wouldnt fancy leaving my car at either of those two later on of a night.
I think ' relatively local' riders should have better marked routes to encourage them to ride there rather than drive. Alot of folk do drive just a few miles, which I personaly think is daft as there are some nice underused local BWs/ towpaths / cyclepaths.
MD did have extra ticket machines installed a few years back when they widened the road but they were robbed /vandalised instantly, cant see any other charging taking effect for that reason. Car with bikes are 'visible' at MD but most weekend traffic is families, particualry stupid sounding brummies. 🙄
Oh, and the raw overflow from the MD bogs flows down to Fives.
[url= http://www.stodgell.co.uk/?p=3261 ]http://www.stodgell.co.uk/?p=3261[/url]Dropped by earlier to check it out on the way to pick up my new frame 🙂 - yes it is free (the car park not the frame), yes it is the existing car park but with new sinage, some new seats etc. Ive put a photo of it on the original posting above
