Downham Market Academy set to introduce car parking charges - potentially impacting Alive Downham Leisure users

Gym-goers in Downham will soon have to pay to be able to use a neighbouring secondary school’s car park as charges will be introduced in a bid to improve student and staff safety.

Those who use the facilities at Alive Downham Leisure often park at Downham Market Academy on Bexwell Road when the centre’s car park gets full.

However, the secondary school is set to introduce an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system which will mean the car park will only be available to gym users after 4pm.

The school has conducted a site survey focusing on vehicle access to the site.

In a newsletter sent to parents and carers, the school said: “Our primary concern is the safety of students, staff and visitors as they enter or leave the site.

“To that end, a number of changes will be made around access to and parking on site.”

The charges will come into force in the next few weeks as the installation of the system has been delayed - with it previously due to be introduced on September 1.

When it is in place, there will be signs in the academy car park advising users of this.

Parking will no longer be available to leisure centre users at the neighbouring car park before 4pm Monday to Friday.

To park in Downham Market Academy’s car park during out-of-school hours, it will cost 50p for 30 minutes up to a maximum of two hours.

Fines will be issued to anyone who does not have permission from the academy prior to parking in its car park.

Alive Downham Leisure has reassured its customers that its car park will remain free for the first three hours.

In a previous email to customers, Alive Downham Leisure had said it would ensure its centre’s parking was protected for its customers by asking them to validate their registration via a tablet after registering at reception or through the turnstiles.

“We appreciate the inconvenience of registering your car when using our car park, but ensuring exclusive use for customers is our priority,” it said.

“We also apologise to customers who will incur new parking charges for using the school car park - this is beyond our control.

“To help improve options for alternative travel to the centre, we will be installing additional bike storage for those able to travel by bike.”

However, in an updated email, it said: “In regards to the system for the Alive Downham Leisure car park; we have reviewed both customer feedback and the recent decision to transfer management of the centre from Alive back to the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk.

“We have therefore decided in the short term to postpone the implementation of the leisure centre parking management system.

“In the meantime, the leisure centre car park will be monitored, and signage introduced advising that the car park is for customer use only.”

A spokesperson for Downham Market Academy said parents can park in the car park during school events including parents’ evenings or performances.

They added that parents have been informed about where to go to drop off their children.