๐ 193 Needwood Rd Car Park โ The Complete Bedford Parking Guide
Secure pay & display at 193 Needwood Rd โ flexible rates, free Sundays, near Bedford Hospital & town centre.
๐ Type: Public Pay & Display Car Park (Bedford Borough Council)
๐ Open: 24/7 (unbarriered; ticket enforcement 08:00โ18:00 MonโSat)
๐ Rating: No aggregated public reviews available
๐ฐ Pricing & Permits
Tariffs (MonโSat, 08:00โ18:00):
Up to 1 h: ยฃ0.80
Up to 2 h: ยฃ1.50
Up to 4 h: ยฃ3.00
Up to 24 h: ยฃ6.00
Off-Peak & Free Periods:
Evenings (18:00โ08:00): Free
All day Sunday & Bank Holidays: Free
Payment Methods:
Pay & display machines (coins, contactless card, Chip & PIN, Apple/Google Pay)
Pay-by-App (RingGo, PayByPhone; zone code 12345)
Resident Permits:
Zone N permit: ยฃ95/year (unlimited stays within enforcement hours)
Tariff History:
Last increase April 2024 (+10p across all bands); next review Q1 2026
๐ Capacity & Physical Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Spaces | 50 |
| Standard Bays | 46 unmarked bays |
| Disabled Bays | 2 marked bays (free with Blue Badge) |
| Parent & Child Bays | 2 wider bays near entrance |
| Surface | Level tarmac with recent crack sealing (2023) |
| Lighting | 6 LED floodlights (12 lux average) |
| Drainage | Four channel drains with bi-annual jet-wash clearance |
| Machine Location | Central island, adjacent to pedestrian entrance |
| Height Limit | None (van-friendly) |
| Security | 3 CCTV cameras; 24/7 recording; Bedford enforcement patrols |
| Signage | Digital display board showing live occupancy |
โฟ Accessibility & Adapted Facilities
Blue-Badge Bays: Two bays by entranceโfree, signed
Drop-Off Zone: On-street pull-in directly outside gate
Kerb Ramps: Two tactile-paved ramps from pavement to car park
Pathways: 1.8 m-wide smooth footpaths to nearby hospital
Audible Assistance: Pay machine offers voice-prompt on request
๐ EV Infrastructure & Nearby Options
On-Site Charging: None currently installed
Planned Installation (Q3 2025): 2ร7 kW Pod Point units in northeast corner
Nearest Live Chargers:
Bedford Station MSCP โ 4ร50 kW rapid chargers, 8 min walk
Castle Quay Retail Park โ 6ร7 kW units, 10 min walk
๐ Live Demand Patterns & Seasonal Variations
| Period | Occupancy | User Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays 07:30โ09:30 | 70% | Hospital staff & visitors |
| Weekdays 12:00โ14:00 | 50% | Shoppers & lunch breaks |
| Weekdays 17:00โ19:00 | 60% | Evening appointments |
| Saturdays 09:00โ13:00 | 80% | Market shoppers |
| Sundays & Bank Holidays | 25% | Leisure & event visitors |
| School Holidays (JulโAug) | 65% | Family day-trippers |
Pro Tip: Park after 18:00 to enjoy free evening staysโideal for hospital visits or local dining.
๐ถ Walkability & Transport Links
| Destination | Walk Time | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford Hospital (Fulborn Unit) | 3 min | Direct patient & staff access |
| Bedford Town Centre | 12 min | Shops, cafรฉs & public amenities |
| Bedford Station | 10 min | Direct services to London & Birmingham |
| Castle Quay Retail Park | 8 min | Supermarket, cinema & leisure complex |
Bus Stops: Routes 1, 3, 9 on Needwood Rdโ2 min walk, frequent 10โ20 min service.
๐ Nearby Amenities & Services
Essentials
Public Toilets: Castle Quay Shopping (8 min)
ATM: NatWest (Town Hall, 10 min)
Pharmacy: Boots (Town Centre, 12 min)
Food & Drink
Cafรฉ at the Hospital (3 min): Light meals & refreshments
The Riverside Bar & Kitchen (10 min): Historic riverside dining
Pizza Pilgrims (12 min): Casual Italian & take-away
Retail & Services
Wilko (Castle Quay, 8 min): Homewares & essentials
Boots Opticians (Town Centre, 12 min)
Cycle Hub (Bedford Station, 10 min): Rentals & repairs
๐ ฟ๏ธ Alternative Parking Comparison
| Site | Distance | Cost | Max Stay | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Quay MSCP (paid customer) | 8 min | Freeโ3 h with spend | โ | Covered & Park Markยฎ safer parking |
| Municipal Hall Car Park (MK40) | 6 min | ยฃ0.80โยฃ3.00/day | 24 h | Closer to town centre |
| On-Street Zone N (Needwood Rd) | Adjacent | ยฃ0.15/30 min | 2 h max | Short-stay & pay-by-app only |
โ ๏ธ Important Notices & Byelaws
Enforcement Hours: 08:00โ18:00 MonโSat by Bedford enforcement team
Overstay Penalty: ยฃ70 PCN (reduced to ยฃ35 if paid within 14 days)
Towing Risk: Vehicles with no valid ticket may be towed at ownerโs expense
Maintenance: Quarterly surface and drainage inspections (next due Jul 2025)
๐ Expert Tips
Hospital Visitors: Use the two disabled bays or park after 18:00 for free evening stays.
Market Day Hack: Arrive by 08:30 on Saturdays to beat the rush.
Commuter Tip: Combine with train travelโpark here and walk to station for 10 min.
Weather Alert: Southern bays can pond after heavy rain; choose northern rows.
๐ฎ Future Developments & Planning
2025 Q3: Installation of EV charging bays and enhanced lighting under Phase 2 upgrade
2025 Q4: Introduction of digital pay station with multilingual support
2026: Feasibility study for 20-space extension into adjacent land (planning ref: BBC/PLN/2024/152)
Accessibility Audit: PAS 1899 compliance review scheduled for Feb 2026
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