The traditional motorcycle parking at the Waterside in Stratford-Upon-Avon is being closed to all vehicles, apart from limited disabled parking spaces.

But all is not lost, a new purpose built secure motorcycle parking area is to be officially opened at 12 noon on Sunday 13 April 2003 at the Bridgeway car park only 200 metres away from the former gathering place, and gives superb access to the town centre.

The launch event for the new parking area will also see stalls representing several local motorcycle groups and Warwickshire County Council.

The parking is for motorcycles only and is designed to prevent other vehicles getting in. There are 30 ground anchors for secure parking and a CCTV camera to deter crime. To promote the new area as a gathering place for motorcyclists, there is a seating area for meeting other riders.

Even the species of ornamental trees have been selected with care to ensure that there are none which drop sap on the bikes or which are likely to grow too high to block the CCTV camera.

The £230,000 development came about as a result of a consensus building exercise carried out between June and July 2000. The council claimed that motorcycles where blocking pedestrian routes around the Waterside area, so some solution was needed that would remove the obstruction without depriving the motorcyclists of a gathering place.

MAG's Director Of Public Affairs says, "The motorcycle parking at the Waterside is much more than just a sterile parking zone, it is a welcome meeting place where riders can chat or enjoy a coffee after a ride out to Stratford. The bikes and riders have always been a major tourist attraction in their own right and this scheme adds legitimacy to our presence."

The Motorcycle Action Group has been involved through the Warwickshire PTW User Forum and has voiced concerns at how motorcyclists might react to the relocating of the parking from the Waterside away from public view. Hopefully there will be a smooth transition to the new superb facility.