🚗 St Mary’s Gate On-Street Car Park – 144 St Mary’s Gate, Dunstable Parking Guide
Affordable council-run bays in Dunstable town centre – low hourly rates, blue-badge & EV bays, steps from High Street shops, Market Square & bus links.
🚗 Type: On-Street Pay & Display Car Park
🕒 Open: 24 hours; chargeable hours 08:00–18:00 (Mon–Sat); free after 18:00, Sundays & bank holidays
🌟 Rating: 3.6 / 5 (local user reviews)
💰 Pricing & Permits
| Duration | Charge |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | £1.00 |
| Up to 2 hours | £1.80 |
| Up to 3 hours | £2.60 |
| Up to 5 hours | £4.10 |
| All day (08:00–18:00) | £8.20 |
Payment: Pay by phone app or coins at Pay & Display machines
Free Parking: Blue-badge holders & motorcycles in marked bays only (display required)
Permit Bays: 13 resident/permit bays; not available to casual users
📊 Capacity & Physical Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Standard Bays | 56 marked bays |
| Permit-holder Bays | 13 bays reserved |
| Disabled Bays | 2 marked bays |
| EV Bays | 4 marked bays |
| Surface | Asphalt on-street with painted bay markings |
| Lighting | Street lamps at regular intervals |
| Security | Occasional CCTV; parking attendants patrol periodically |
| Height Restriction | None (suitable for vans & estates) |
♿ Accessibility
Kerb Access: Dropped kerbs at bay ends and pedestrian crossings
Disabled Access: Level bays adjacent to crossings; confirm badge display
Drop-Off: Informal short stays tolerated near machine for quick drop-off
🔌 EV Infrastructure
On-Site Chargers: Four dedicated EV bays (no charge to use; follow signage)
Nearest Rapid Chargers:
Grove Park Car Park (0.3 mi; 2×22 kW) – 5 min walk
The Mall Dunstable (0.4 mi; 4×7 kW) – 7 min walk
📅 Peak Times & Occupancy
| Timeframe | Occupancy | Typical Users |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays 08:00–10:00 | ~90 % | Commuters & shoppers |
| Weekdays 12:00–14:00 | ~70 % | Lunch-hour visitors |
| Weekdays 16:00–18:00 | ~85 % | After-work shoppers |
| Saturdays 10:00–16:00 | ~95 % | Market & retail crowd |
Pro Tip: Arrive before 08:00 on weekdays or before 10:00 on Saturdays for best chance at a bay.
🚶 Walkability Score
(All walk times from bay line)
| Destination | Walk Time | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| High Street Shops | 1 min | Immediate access to shops & cafés |
| Dunstable Market Square | 2 min | Fresh produce & local stalls |
| The Oaks Shopping Centre | 4 min | Covered mall with restrooms |
| Dunstable Bus Station | 3 min | Services across Bedfordshire & Milton Keynes |
| Priory Gardens | 6 min | Historic parkland & play areas |
🛒 Nearby Amenities
Essentials
ATM: NatWest (Market Square, 2 min)
Pharmacy: Boots (High Street, 2 min)
Public Toilets: The Dunstable Centre (4 min)
Food & Drink
Costa Coffee: Market Square (2 min)
Greggs: High Street (1 min)
The Good Loaf: Bakery & deli (3 min)
🅿️ Alternative Parking Comparison
| Site | Distance | Cost | Max Stay | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grove Park Car Park | 0.3 mi | £1.20/hr | 4 h/£6.00 | EV rapid chargers & CCTV |
| Priory Park Car Park | 0.5 mi | Free | Dawn–Dusk | Park-and-walk to riverside trails |
| Eaton Road Surface Bays | 0.4 mi | Free | 2 h | Free bays but limited availability |
| The Mall Dunstable (multi-story) | 0.4 mi | £1.50/hr | 24 h | Covered, toilets & EV bays |
| On-Street Church Street Bays | 0.2 mi | £1.20/hr | 4 h | Closer to bus station |
⚠️ Important Notices
Enforcement: Patrols during chargeable hours; PCN £70 for overstays or non-payment
Overnight Parking: Bays remain but enforcement only 08:00–18:00
Maintenance: Surface repaints scheduled annually (next: Autumn 2025)
EV Bay Works: Occasional bay closures for charging upgrades—follow local signage
📌 Expert Tips
App Convenience: Use council’s pay-by-app to top up remotely without returning
Blue-Badge Hack: Display badge & app-register to park free up to 4 h in any bay
Market Day Strategy: During Wednesdays & Saturdays, swap to Grove Park Car Park for guaranteed space
Evening Visits: Free after 18:00—ideal for dinner or theatre at Grove Theatre
🔮 Future Developments
2025 Q4: Council consulting on extending free Sundays to include Saturdays after 16:00
2026: Proposal to install solar canopy over bays with integrated EV chargers
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