A city park and ride site that was given a second chance following a three-year closure has had its trial extended by more than three months. 

The news comes after the Postwick Park and Ride reopened in September after being used as a Covid testing centre, but it was only planned to be open for four months. 

But council bosses have confirmed the trial period will now be extended until April following an uptick in use and to allow more communities to take advantage of the service. 

Norwich Evening News: Postwick Park and Ride reopened for a four-month trial in SeptemberPostwick Park and Ride reopened for a four-month trial in September (Image: Mike Page)

Councillor Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: "The Postwick Park and Ride has been open for more than three months now and figures are going in the right direction.

"Last Saturday saw the most passengers in one day since its reopening.

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"However, numbers are still low at around 37pc of pre-pandemic levels so we still need many more people using this service regularly to make it viable for the future."

The site was initially closed to become a Covid testing centre but was reopened as a trial ahead of last Christmas, with councillors subsequently emphasising the importance of keeping the site open.

Norwich Evening News: Councillor Graham Plant says figures are heading in the right direction but numbers remain below pre-pandemic levelsCouncillor Graham Plant says figures are heading in the right direction but numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels (Image: Norfolk County Council)

The council warned the public to "use it or lose it" when talking about the 552-car-capacity site which the county council say costs £250,000 a year to run. 

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Mr Plant added: "We know how important this service is - particularly to those living in villages to the east - so we have decided to extend the trial until Easter next year to give it the best chance of getting passenger numbers back up."

The council also hopes to drive up numbers with quality-of-life changes to its "Travel Norfolk Journey Planner".

This includes showing the number of spaces available at all park and ride sites and a new function that is going live at the end of this week for park and ride journeys to appear as individual options when searched through the system.