A bid to make a council cabinet rethink its decision to reopen a mothballed Park & Ride site has faltered as local institutions throw their weight behind the plans.

The cabinet is set to push ahead with the move, insisting that local businesses back the project, and “it’s not taking money from services elsewhere.”

Members of the opposition Conservative group on Canterbury City Council (CCC) ‘called-in’ the decision to reopen the Sturry Road Park & Ride site from April next year.

Shuttered by the previous Conservative administration in July 2022, the new Labour - Lib Dem cabinet voted on August 1 to reopen the, at an estimated cost of £232,500.

At a special meeting of the scrutiny sub-committee, members hashed out details of the scheme.

Simon Gwynne, director of estates and facilities for Canterbury Christchurch University, attended to support the reopening.

“We see this as a really important initiative,” he told councillors, telling of how 1500-1800 students drive in via Sturry Road, and could instead use the service.

Paul Turner, vice chair of Canterbury BID and CFO of the Marlowe Theatre also backed it, saying it could help their own “green agenda”.

He said the reopened site could help make the city “cleaner and safer,” and be used the Marlowe’s 300,000 yearly visitors.

Cabinet member for transport Cllr Alex Ricketts (Lib Dem) was in attendance to answer member’s questions.

“Let’s be open to the idea of businesses subsidising Park & Ride for their staff,” he suggested.

“I think CCC can be a leader in that, Christchurch University have already said that that’s something they want to explore again, and there are plenty of other businesses and institutions in the district.”

He continued: “We can use the revenue from city centre car parks to effectively subsidise park and ride until that becomes more popular.

“It’s not any extra money from council tax, it’s not taking money from services elsewhere.”

The committee agreed that at the next scrutiny sub-committee meeting in September a proposal will be made for reports, which would monitor Sturry Road Park & Ride’s performance every 6 months.