Ipswich Borough Council has released details of car parking ahead of next week's England international at Portman Road against Croatia.
On the match day there will be no car parking in Portman Road at all. Two special Park & Ride sites will be operating from 11.00am — cost £5 to park all day.
The Park & Ride sites will be well signed from the A12 from the south and A14 from the north and west. Drivers are advised to use the Park & Ride schemes as the town will be especially busy on the day.
Police information from previous England matches suggests that people will arrive early and make a day of the event.
Facilities for coaches and disabled (blue badge) drivers only will be provided near the ground. No other car parking will be available nearby.
Existing Car Parks
All car parks near the ground will be closed for security reasons. Drivers are requested to use the specially provided Park & Ride service instead. Regular car park users will be accommodated elsewhere, and advised in advance.
Letters have been sent to season ticket holders and notices are in place on car parks informing drivers. Lorry Park users have been informed. Rail customers will also be informed.
Park & Ride
Two special Park & Ride sites will be established on the day at Sproughton, at the Sugar Beet factory off the A14 west interchange (Sproughton Road) and the IP8 field opposite the Post House/Holiday Inn off Scrivener Drive (Sprites Lane).
The existing Park & Ride sites will also operate, but it is expected they will fill up early in the day.
The Sugar Beet Factory site at Sproughton Road will take up to 400 cars. Buses will run from there via the A14 and London Road to a special Park & Ride bus stop at West End Road.
The IP8 site at Sprites Lane will accommodate upwards of 3,500 cars. London Road Park & Ride buses will also divert to serve this site.
All Park & Ride buses will be supplemented as necessary. As a Special Deal, the Park & Ride sites will cost £5 for the day's parking. Town centre parking will cost £12 for the day.
Special Park & Ride at Sprites Lane and Sproughton Rroad will open at 11.00am and remain open until 11.30pm.
All buses will run to all sites after the match. After the game, get on any bus back to any of the Park & Ride car parks.
A choice of caterers will provide refreshments on the day at the IP8 Sprites Lane special Park & Ride site. Toilets and lighting will also be provided.
Signs will be in place on the A12 and A14 directing drivers to the nearest Park & Ride car park with spaces. The signs will be altered as the Park & Ride sites fill up, directing drivers to the next Park & Ride with spaces.
Traffic News
A control centre at the IP8 site will provide traffic and travel information on car parking, buses, and traffic from a number of sources, including having a link to the police for up to the minute information. This will be fed to Ipswich Local Radio (87.7FM) and BBC Radio Suffolk (103.9FM).
Coaches
Coaches will be directed to parking next to the football ground. Coach parking will be accessed via the A14 and A12 to A1214 London Road then Handford Road where the Police will control the turn across traffic into Portman Road. The charge for coach parking will be £10.
After the match, the Police will escort coaches in priority groups out of Ipswich to the bypass.
Parking for People with Disabilities
Parking for blue badge holders ONLY will be provided beside the ground at New Portman Road. Access to this car park will be via Friars Bridge Road, off Princes Street.
Disabled Badge Holders only will be allowed free parking at this location. Ipswich Town FC Stewards will assist parking and give directions to people with disabilities.
Maps of car park locations etc can be found here: http://www.ipswich.gov.uk/services/carparks/international.htm