London 2012: Car Park closures at Westfield Stratford City

Kay Atwal, Chief Reporter Wednesday, June 6, 2012
10:51 AM

Bosses at Westfield Stratford City have announced that all its car parks will be closed for at least 12 weeks to allow preparations for this summer’s Olympics.

It will mean the loss of 5,000 parking spaces for the £1.45 billion shoppers paradise which boasts 300 shops including M&S, John Lewis, Next and Waitrose.

A statement issued by Westfield said all car parks at the shopping centre will be closed from June 18 and will remain so until the end of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The latter will end on September 9, depriving shoppers and local workers of parking for at least 12 weeks.

Westfield said: “From June 18 2012, all car parks at Westfield Stratford City will be closed to the public as we, the Official Shopping Centre Provider, London 2012 Organising Committee and the local councils start to prepare Stratford for the forthcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games. All car parks will remain closed until after the Paralympic Games.

“During this time vehicles will not be permitted to enter Westfield Stratford City and the current access via Warton Road (off Stratford High Street), Penny Brookes Street (off Angel Lane) and the A12 interchange will be closed.”

In the statement, Westfield is urging people to continue with their shopping, dining and leisure activities by using public transport.

*Frustrated shoppers spent hours trapped in one of the car parks at Westfield Stratford City on Bank Holiday Monday as a result of problems with traffic lights on a main road. One woman said she was in Car Park C for at least three hour before she was able to move.