New ‘Horizon’ parking charges irk Exeter leisure users

Shoppers at Exe Bridges retail park are now facing parking fees, putting an end to drivers being able to leave their cars for free.

The retail park, which is home to the likes of M&S Foodhall, Boots, and TK Maxx, gives everyone parking there an hour free, but staying for more than that could cost at least £6.90.

For anyone who buys something from one of the retailers, they are given a voucher to scan at a parking machine, which validates  parking for up to three hours.

Some potential concern had been raised for users of the adjacent Riverside Leisure Centre, as those looking to make the most of those facilities might have parked at Exe Bridges when parking was free.

However, the leisure centre does still have its own car park at the rear, meaning as long as there is space, leisure centre users won’t be stung by the new Exe Bridges charges.

Although Riverside is owned by Exeter City Council, Exe Bridges car park is on private land, with the new parking scheme overseen by Horizon Parking Limited.

The name Horizon has dominated the headlines recently, being the name of the IT system at the centre of the Post Office scandal, dramatised on ITV.

Although some motorists using the system wondered about the link, Horizon Parking has no link to Japanese technology firm Fujitsu or the Post Office.

Instead, the British company is owned by the investment arm of FTSE 100 insurance giant Legal & General.

The parking changes mean users who park there but do not buy something from one of the retailers have one hour free, with two hours costing £6.90, up to three hours being £10.50 and all-day parking costing £15.

By Bradley Gerrard, Local Democracy Reporter.