Council bosses have agreed to reopen a park and ride site that has been shut since the pandemic but warn if it is not used it will be closed permanently.

Norwich’s Postwick Park and Ride is set to reopen in September on a trial basis for at least four months.

County Hall bosses have agreed to resume the 552-parking place site – which it says costs up to £250,000 a year to operate - after pressure from the parish councils and the public.

READ MORE: Postwick Park and Ride petition signed by 1,000 people

Eastern Daily Press: The Postwick Park and Ride site is to reopen on a trial basisThe Postwick Park and Ride site is to reopen on a trial basis (Image: Newsquest)

Other city park and ride sites reopened in June last year, but Norfolk County Council kept Postwick, used as a Covid testing centre early in the pandemic, shut, bar a temporary opening last Christmas.

The council had said it would reopen it once passenger numbers on the overall park and ride service had recovered to 75pc of pre-Covid levels.

Eastern Daily Press: Postwick Park and Ride site was used as a Covid testing centre early in the pandemicPostwick Park and Ride site was used as a Covid testing centre early in the pandemic (Image: Mike Page)

That figure has yet to reached, but with 11 parish councils issuing a joint statement saying it is essential services resume, the council is to reopen it from Monday, September 4.

Buses will run every 20 minutes starting at Postwick at 7.30am and with the last journey back from the bus station at 6.10pm, Monday to Saturday.

READ MORE: Pressure piled on council over closed Norwich park and ride

Eastern Daily Press: Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructureGraham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure (Image: Jamie Honeywood Archant Norwich Norfolk)

The council says it will cost up to £250,000 a year to run the service and Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure, warned: "This really is a case of use it or lose it.

"People have been asking for a return of this service – and that’s why we have decided to open it on a trial basis.

"In these difficult financial times though we have to be honest that budgets are limited and so we need to see passenger numbers increase across all of our sites to help keep Norwich park and ride sustainable and running for the future."

Eastern Daily Press: Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at Norfolk County CouncilSteve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at Norfolk County Council (Image: Archant)

Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at County Hall, said: "Town and parish councils have been vocal in wanting Postwick to reopen, so I’m pleased at least the grudging trial is going ahead."