🚗 Clapham High Street On-Street Parking – 118 High St, Bedford Guide

🚗 Type: On-Street Pay & Display
🕒 Open: 8 AM–6 PM, Monday–Saturday; free after 6 PM & all day Sunday & Bank Holidays
🌟 Rating: N/A (standard council-managed street parking)

💰 Pricing & Permits

Duration	Charge
Up to 30 minutes	£0.90
Up to 1 hour	£1.50
Up to 2 hours	£2.20
Up to 3 hours	£4.20
Up to 4 hours	£6.60
Over 4 hours (all day)	£8.80

Payment Methods:
- Pay & Display machines (coins and card);
- PayByPhone app (location code displayed on signage).
Blue-Badge Holders: Free in designated bays (badge must be displayed).
Enforcement: Parking attendants monitor stays and issue PCNs if expired.

📊 Capacity & Physical Features

Feature	Detail
Total Bays	~12 marked bays along High St
Surface	Asphalt with clearly painted lines
Lighting	Street lamps at 20 m intervals
Security	Occasional CCTV coverage; public area
Height Limit	N/A (standard vehicle dimensions)

♿ Accessibility

Disabled Access: Level kerb cuts and designated blue-badge bays.
Drop-Off Zone: Not formally designated—short stays tolerated in adjacent bays.
Pedestrian Access: Wide pavements with dropped crossings at side streets.

🔌 EV Infrastructure

On-Street Chargers: None directly on High St.
Nearest Public Chargers:
- Allhallows Multi-Storey Car Park (0.2 mi, 4×7 kW chargers; 5 min walk).
- Lurke Street Multi-Storey (0.3 mi, 2×22 kW; 6 min walk).

📅 Peak Times & Occupancy

Timeframe	Occupancy	Typical Users
Weekdays 8–10 AM	90%	Commuters & shoppers
Weekdays 12–2 PM	75%	Lunch-time visitors
Weekdays 4–6 PM	80%	Evening shoppers
Saturdays 10 AM–4 PM	95%	Market & retail crowd
Evenings after 6 PM	30%	Leisure visitors

Pro Tip: Arrive before 10 AM on Saturdays to secure a bay; otherwise use adjacent Greyfriars surface car park (5 min).

🚶 Walkability Score

Destination	Walk Time	Key Benefit
Clapham High St Shops	Immediate	On your doorstep
Clapham Road Bus Stop	2 min	Regular local and inter-town services
Bedford Town Centre	8 min	Restaurants, cinema & market square
Bedford Train Station	12 min	Direct trains to London & East Anglia
Bedford Hospital	10 min	Outpatient clinics & A&E

🛒 Nearby Amenities

Essentials

ATM: NatWest (High St, 1 min)
Pharmacy: Boots (Market Square, 4 min)
Public Toilets: Harpur Centre (5 min)

Food & Drink

Costa Coffee: High St (2 min)
Clapham Kitchen: Café & brunch (3 min)
The Good Loaf: Bakery & deli (2 min)

🅿️ Alternative Parking Comparison

Site	Distance	Cost	Max Stay	Advantage
Greyfriars Surface Car Park	0.2 mi	£1.20/hr	4 h	Multi-hour flexibility
Allhallows Multi-Storey	0.2 mi	£1/hr (2 h free Sat)	24 h	Covered, EV charging
Lurke Street Multi-Storey	0.3 mi	£1/hr (2 h free Sat)	24 h	Central; longer free Sat parking
Queen Street Multi-Storey	0.4 mi	£1/hr	24 h	Nearby market & town centre
On-Street (other High St bays)	0.1 mi	Same tariffs	4 h	Closest to shops & services

⚠️ Important Notices

Overstay Fines: Penalty charge £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days).
Time Limits: 4 hours maximum on-street (Mon–Sat).
Market Days: Street may close midday Wednesday & Saturday; check local notices.

📌 Expert Tips

Lunch-Hour Hack: Use PayByPhone for easy top-ups without returning.
Blue-Badge Strategy: Park in marked bays for up to 4 hours free.
Evening Visits: Free after 6 PM—ideal for dinner or cinema trips.
Market Day Caution: Arrive early or opt for multi-storey to avoid closures.

🔮 Future Developments

2025: Proposal to install two on-street EV fast-chargers on High St (consultation Q3).
2026: Council reviewing extended free-Saturday scheme for all street bays.