🚗 Shortstown Car Park – Complete Bedford MK42 0GG Guide
Free Shortstown village parking – shops, school & café on your doorstep.
🚗 Type: Surface Public Car Park (Council-managed, first-come basis)
🕒 Open: 24 hours daily
🌟 Rating: 4.2 / 5 (local feedback)
💰 Pricing & Permits
Cost: Free (no pay-and-display or permits)
Enforcement: Informal checks by Bedford Borough Council; residents asked to use responsibly
📊 Capacity & Physical Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Spaces | ~25 marked bays |
| Surface | Level tarmac with painted bay lines |
| Lighting | Single lamp at entrance; remainder unlit after dusk |
| Security | Occasional council patrols; no CCTV |
| Height Restriction | None (suitable for vans and MPVs) |
| Entry/Exit | Unbarriered; clear signage to village centre |
♿ Accessibility
Step-Free Access: Smooth tarmac from bays to village square
Disabled Drivers: No designated bays; nearest blue-badge bays at Village Centre MSCP (2 min walk)
Drop-Off Zone: Kerbside lay-by adjacent to community hall
🔌 EV Infrastructure
On-Site Chargers: None
Nearest Options:
Tesco Express Shortstown (1×7 kW Pod Point; free first 2 h with shopping)
New Cardington Village Square MSCP (2×7 kW; 3 min walk)
📅 Peak Times & Occupancy
| Timeframe | Occupancy | Typical Users |
|---|---|---|
| School drop-off (8–9 AM) | 90 % | Parents & school staff |
| Weekday lunchtimes | 50 % | Shoppers & café visitors |
| Saturdays 10–2 PM | 75 % | Families & community events |
| Evenings after 6 PM | 40 % | Residents returning home |
Pro Tip: Arrive before 8 AM on school days to secure bays closest to the primary school entrance.
🚶 Walkability Score
| Destination | Walk Time | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Shortstown Village Square | 1 min | Tesco Express, pharmacy, café |
| Shortstown Primary School | 2 min | Safe drop-off zone immediately adjacent |
| New Cardington Community Hub | 3 min | Nursery, play area & retail units |
| Bedford City Centre (bus) | 5 min | Frequent bus link to Bedford town |
🛒 Nearby Amenities
Essentials
Public Toilets: Inside community hub (during opening hours)
ATM: Inside Tesco Express (2 min)
Pharmacy: Day Lewis, Village Square (2 min)
Food & Drink
Café Nouveau: Light bites & coffee (1 min)
The Village Pantry: Bakery & sandwiches (2 min)
🅿️ Alternative Parking Comparison
| Site | Distance | Cost | Max Stay | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Cardington Village MSCP | 3 min | Free 2 h; permit thereafter | 4 h | Covered, blue-badge bays |
| Shortstown Sports Ground Lot | 5 min | Free | Unlimited | Larger capacity, evening access |
| Bedford Retail Park (A428) | 8 min | Free 2 h (validation) | 2 h | EV charging & supermarket convenience |
⚠️ Important Notices
No Overnight Parking: Vehicles left longer than 72 h may be ticketed.
Event Days: Village fairs and car-boot sales can fill the lot—use Sports Ground overflow.
Maintenance: Annual line-repainting scheduled September 2025 (temporary bay closures).
📌 Expert Tips
School-Run Hack: Use community hub parking if village car park is full and walk the short path to school.
Shop-and-Charge: Combine Tesco run with a quick EV top-up before you stroll back to the village.
Weekend Stroll: Park here then follow waymarked footpaths along the old railway for a scenic loop.
🔮 Future Developments
Late 2025: Bedford Borough Council evaluating installation of a single 7 kW EV charger bay.
Early 2026: Potential rollout of ANPR monitoring for seamless, ticket-free parking.
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