Free first 3 hr leisure parking with EV charging and accessible bays
Carlton Forum Leisure Centre Car Park is a surfaced tarmacadam lot offering 180 bays for leisure centre patrons. Operating hours are 6 am11 pm daily; parking is free for the first three hours upon scanning a valid membership card at exit, then £0.80 per hour (capped at £6 per day), payable via machines accepting coins, card, contactless, or via RingGo. Ten accessible bays (3.6 m wide) are located within 10 m of the main centre entrance, featuring drop-kerb ramps and tactile paving strips. The surface was resurfaced in early 2024, and crisp thermoplastic bay markings were applied mid-2024. Uniform LED column lighting ensures bright, glare-free illumination after dusk, supplemented by motion-activated pathway lights. Six CCTV cameras with motion detection cover all entry, exit, and aisles, streaming to the leisure centres security office. A 7 kW EV charging station was installed near the accessible bays in late 2024, bookable via the Chargemaster app. Covered cycle shelters for 50 bicycles and lockers for outdoor equipment encourage active travel. Perimeter shrub beds help manage stormwater runoff and provide visual appeal. Directional signage inside the lot guides drivers to the exit onto Huckerbys Field. Monthly maintenance includes pay machine servicing, litter clearance, and drainage gully inspections.