Many public car parks in St Albans have extra capacity, according to a study carried out by the district council.

Following a study of the city’s public car parks, carried out by St Albans District Council, information considered the implications of the car parking needs of the police relocating into the Civic Centre.

The council analysed daytime usage of the nine public National Car Parks (NCP), which found them to have an average occupancy rate of 56 per cent on weekdays and 36 per cent at weekends, although market and event days are busier.

The car parks in Russell Avenue and Drovers Way have the most spaces and there is usually capacity in all the car parks in the evenings. The council also revealed they are keen for the police to have a presence and parking at the civic centre.

Councillor Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Localism and Community Engagement for the council, said: "The council and our various partners are working hard to attract more visitors into the city.

"Our study identifies spare capacity at various times of the day in our car parks, which is good news. We are working with NCP to reclassify underused car parks in the city centre to target some at shoppers and others at workers. This should result in better access to parking spaces for everybody, whether they live or work in St Albans, or want to visit our city."

"There are more than 20 public car parks in the city and others elsewhere in the district, although most of us could not name them all. Details of the main car parks can be found on the council’s website."

The council is renegotiating a contract with NCP to make better use of the available parking spaces. Competitively priced all-day tariffs will be provided in some of the city’s other car parks. This should also free up short term parking in the central car parks.