A new Lorry Park at Murton to serve York will open it gates on the afternoon of Monday,3 March to provide overnight parking for up to 30 lorries. The project has been developed by City of York Council in conjunction with York Auction Centre and complements the recently completed Union Terrace Coach and Car Parking facility.

Richard Tasker from the York Auction Centre, said: " We have been very pleased to work with the council on this project, which provides an excellent overnight stopping point for drivers passing through the area. We currently have 30 lorry spaces which will be kept secure with the aid of CCTV cameras, street lighting and on site patrols throughout the night.

"The lorry park will be open at 4.00 pm and close at 9.00 am the following day, with the latest arrival time of 11.00 pm. Throughout March the facility will be open on weekdays, with seven day operation commencing in April. There is also a cafŽ on site which will be opened up through the night as soon as the demand from drives is established. The overnight charge will be £7.00.

"We also have ambitious plans to upgrade the toilet facilities and provide a shower block in the near future to cater for drivers needs. Unfortunately we will not be able to accommodate refrigerated units due to noise constraints." Ray Chaplin the council's head of engineering consultancy, said: " This has been a successful venture for the council in working with York Auction Centre to provide lorry parking for the city. This is the final phase of the scheme to relocate the former Clarence Street Coach/Lorry park.

"The Union Terrace Coach and Car Park has recently been completed, which provides a new toilet facility along with spaces for coaches, mini buses, cars, motor cycles and bicycles. The council has achieved 'Secure by Design' status for this parking facility due to the protection offered by street lighting and CCTV cameras, along with the sensitive landscaping design.

"The council is in the process of erecting a comprehensive system of signs to direct drivers to the Lorry Park at Murton, just of the A166 to the east of York. The first phase of this around Grimston Roundabout, at the junction with the A64 outer ring, is complete and work is ongoing to install the rest of the signs around the whole of the outer ring road over the next few months.

"Both these projects assist the council's Local Transport Plan to reduce congestion within the city, whilst providing facilities for the freight industry and tourism to have good access to the city and making a vital contribution to the York economy."