05/07/10

City's first dedicated coach park opens

Release to: Coach Journals
Date: July 2010
Title: City's first dedicated coach park opens

 

The first dedicated coach park has opened in Belfast city centre.

The facility, beside the former SeaCat terminal at Corporation Square, has been developed by the Federation of Passenger Transport Northern Ireland (FPTNI), with the support of Belfast City Council, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Europa General Underwriters.

The new Belfast Coach Park (BCP)  has parking for 35 large and five medium sized coaches and will be open all year round.  It is located in the heart of the city, which is an ideal parking location for visiting coaches. and is covered by CCTV surveillance 24/7.   Its online booking system is totally automated and parking is from a few hours to a full day as well as overnight stays. Long term parking can also be arranged. 

In addition, FPTNI have an arrangement with local taxi company fonaCAB and also offers emergency breakdown assistance and driver relief.

Up until now, the only parking available for coaches has been six parking bays at College Square North, a further two at Glengall Street and one for drop off/hop on at Victoria Square.

Officially opening the new coach park, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Pat Convery said:

“The importance of tourism to our economy has never been clearer – in 2009, we attracted 9.3 million visitors, who spent £451 million, which in turn supported the equivalent of 10,148 full time jobs – and it's vital that we do all that we can to provide the right infrastructure to support its growth. 

“This essential new facility will provide secure overnight parking for visiting coach operators who play such a key role in bringing our ever increasing numbers of visitors to Belfast."

Karen Magill, FPTNI Chief Executive, added:

‘’The  new coach park is not only vitally important to local and visiting coach operators  but also to the local economy and the tourism industry in Belfast.  This has only been possible with the support of Europa General Underwriters, and we are delighted that they decided to partner with us in this venture. “We are also thankful to the Belfast City Council and NITB for their support in opening the coach park.”

We will have a full report in the next edition of Buszone out next month.