It seems that residents still do not appreciate that much of the parking in Tilehurst car parks is actually free of charge.  The charges in Recreation Road and Dunstall Close car parks only apply after the first hour and only between 10:00 and 15:00 Monday to Saturday. To park for free during these peak hours just take a ticket and display in your car window and you will have a hour’s free parking.

The problem is that NCP who run the car park on behalf of the council, do not advertise the fact that the first hour is free or that they only charge between 10:00 and 15:00. After all, what’s in it for them to advertise free parking. However the lack of advertising puts people off using these car parks as people assume that they are going to have to pay and then start looking around for free spaces on the roads behind the shops in Tilehurst.