Free parking in Reading on Saturdays

[Salty seadog]

Morning all,
Trying to find out a place to park in Reading for free as near to the Station as possible. I will be looking at parking for about 8-9 hours. I have googles mapped some of the residential permit areas and the signs suggest that there are no restrictions on Saturday.

I cannot make out the text on the bottom plate but the image is also from 2014 and things may have changed since. I did contact the local council but they flat out wouldn't answer the question about residential areas saying it was my responsibility to find out when I got there, this despite me asking about specific locations and them having that information at their fingertips.

Anyone able to help me with local info?

 

[DaveReading]

I cannot make out the text on the bottom plate

That bit says "All other times [i.e. outside of the Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm times on the upper plate] and Sat & Sun: permit holders only", so you wouldn't be able to park there for 8 hours at any time.

Reading is notorious for parking restrictions, if you can find free parking with in a kilometre of the station you'll be doing well. Maybe round the hospital or north of the river, but either is a fair old walk.

 

[vickster]

Park at the next station up the line and get the train? Otherwise looks like it's £12 a day or more to park in Reading

 

[Salty seadog]

That bit says "All other times [i.e. outside of the Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm times on the upper plate] and Sat & Sun: permit holders only", so you wouldn't be able to park there for 8 hours at any time.



Reading is notorious for parking restrictions, if you can find free parking with in a kilometre of the station you'll be doing well. Maybe round the hospital or north of the river, but either is a fair old walk.

Cheers Dave, now you've told me I can make it out in the pic. Distance isn't a major factor as I'll be on bike once I've parked up. Do you know of anywhere within in a mile or so thats a definite?

The signs are basically saying permit holders all day or two hours for non-permit holders during office hours Mon-Fri, and permit holders only at weekends.

Cheers Reg.

 

[vickster]

I doubt any free parking will be a definite, just need to cross fingers.
Get the train to Reading rather than driving? Network rail card for £30 will save you a third on the fare

Or Winnersh Triangle has a park and ride

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/winnersh-park-ride-more-400-10332572

Parkopedia is a useful resource http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/reading/?arriving=201701270830&leaving=201701271030

 

[Salty seadog]

I doubt any free parking will be a definite, just need to cross fingers.
Get the train to Reading rather than driving? Network rail card for £30 will save you a third on the fare

Or Winnersh Triangle has a park and ride

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/winnersh-park-ride-more-400-10332572

Parkopedia is a useful resource http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/reading/?arriving=201701270830&leaving=201701271030

I can get the train much cheaper than that with a concession I have through work. 75% off tickets.
There are circumstances which rule out the train on this occasion.

Parkopedia is not that good at finding free sites either.

 

[vickster]

Ah well might have to park further out (easy with bike) or pay the £12

 

[DaveReading]

Cheers Dave, now you've told me I can make it out in the pic. Distance isn't a major factor as I'll be on bike once I've parked up. Do you know of anywhere within in a mile or so thats a definite?

There are no guarantees that anywhere free will have spaces, and ignore my earlier suggestion about parking near the hospital, just remembered that has a 2-hour limit.

If you're going to park and ride the bike in, best bet would probably be either Palmer Park Stadium or Wokingham Waterside Centre, both about 2km east of the town centre, though it might be a bit mean to take up a space there all day.

 

[mark st1]

I used to park at Palmer Park on a Saturday for free don't know if that's changed ? Also used to park at Tesco Napier Road for well over the free 3 hours time slot. They used to turn a blind eye on a Saturday as the council had a deal with them as there is kids football on a Saturday at Kings Meadow up the road. That would be a take your chances thing though.

 

[Salty seadog]

I hope you don't mind me asking this, but can you not afford the parking fees? Why is it so important for car owners to not pay their way?

I can but would rather not if there is a free option. I pay my way when necessary. It's gonna cost me a whack in fuel for the day too. As mentioned before I can get a great deal on the train but am doing a favour for someone and it's going to be far more expensive so am looking to minimise cost.

 

[raleighnut]

I can but would rather not if there is a free option. I pay my way when necessary. It's gonna cost me a whack in fuel for the day too. As mentioned before I can get a great deal on the train but am doing a favour for someone and it's going to be far more expensive so am looking to minimise cost.

Park on the outskirts of town?

 

[Salty seadog]

Park on the outskirts of town?

That's what I'm looking into, It'll be dark etc when going back to the car so don't want to be too far out and that will be after a days cycling.

@DaveReading Looking at the area behind (east) of the Palmers park stadium it looks like that might be a good option, cannot see any parking restriction signs. Culver lane etc...

 

[Deleted member 35268]

I got a ticket in a bay just like that in Reading, I read the signs about ten times before I though I was OK (it was in the evening). I misunderstood the signs - can't think why, they are so easy. I was visiting a friend in a road I used to live in.

 

[Salty seadog]

I got a ticket in a bay just like that in Reading, I read the signs about ten times before I though I was OK (it was in the evening). I misunderstood the signs - can't think why, they are so easy. I was visiting a friend in a road I used to live in.

you mean like the one in the first pic, resident zone sign?

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I hope you don't mind me asking this, but can you not afford the parking fees? Why is it so important for car owners to not pay their way?

In which way is a static car that I will presume (for the purpose of this question) is insured, has a valid MOT & VED not paying it's way?