UKC

Just a heads-up about imminent changes to the parking arrangements at Ratho:

https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/parking-changes/

"We’re making changes to the way parking works at EICA to help maximise the available parking spaces for our customers. These changes are designed to prioritise access for those using the venues and to reduce misuse of our car parks. These changes will be effective from 23rd April 2025.

When visiting EICA, you’ll continue to receive free parking for the duration of your visit. To benefit from this, simply enter your vehicle’s number plate on the tablets around the venue when you arrive. This simple step helps us manage parking spaces and ensure they’re available for genuine visitors. 

Tablets are available to register your number plate at EICA by the reception, soft play and climbing arena. 

A 15 minute ‘grace period’ will apply so don’t worry if you’re only visiting our venue to quickly drop off your friends or family.

If your drop off /pick up takes longer than 15 minutes, you will be required to enter your number plate at reception to avoid charges or a penalty notice.  

If you forget to validate your parking before your activity, please make sure to speak to a member of staff who will help you validate your free parking.  

If you are using the car park without visiting the venue, or if you visit without registering or paying, there will be an initial charge of £10 for up to two hours parking, increasing by £5 increments per additional hour. Payment can be made via the cashless pay terminal in the car park or through the PaybyPhone app (iOS | Android). Anyone who does not register or pay as required will receive a parking charge notice of £100 (reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days). 

Thank you for your understanding and support as we make these changes to improve access for all customers and encourage responsible use of our car parks. Our helpful teams will be on hand to support with any questions during your visit or email us at [email protected] for more information."

What other purposes is the car park being used for?  The place is in the middle of a field with nothing useful near it.

Or is the issue people getting up to illegal activities in the car park?

I've no idea, I wondered the same thing myself. Unless people using the new surf place next door are camping in it overnight at times. I got an email from Edinburgh Leisure earlier today advising of the change.

That’s a bit of a PITA for those with memberships that can typically sail in without queuing. Hopefully, the system is smooth enough that queues don’t develop. I wonder how it will affect access to the quarry? Like can you register your car if you have no intention of climbing in the centre?

Yes access to the outdoor quarry is my biggest concern. I go there quite a lot without using the indoor centre.. would be happy to pay a reasonable parking fee for using the place. Maybe they'd let you park if you buy a coffee from the cafe?

Not sure that the new and neighbouring Lost Shore Resort - "Three times the size of Wembley football pitch, it is Europe’s largest wave pool and one of the most advanced on the planet" - would appreciate being called "nothing useful". EICA management will, rightly in my opinion, have considered that there its a real risk that Lost Shore's car parking could be overwhelmed this summer, and is taking steps to protect its own customers' ability to park. On a number of occasions in the past year I was not able to park in the EICA car park because it was rammed with Lost Shore construction contractors.

You can park and pay £10, though that is a bit steep in my view.

I don't know but if I were climbing in the quarry I'd register the car in the centre reception, go downstairs and out into the quarry at the arena turnstiles.

When I was climbing indoors there yesterday, there were contractors working in the overspill car park facility.

The Lost Shores car park is pretty huge which I hadn't realised till having a proper look at it yesterday on my way out. And since the surfing is now open to the public, presumably there's minimal work if any remaining to cause their contractors to clutter up the EICA parking. 

Yeah wouldn't be paying £5 per hour to go climbing outside!

I sent then an email actually and they confirmed that quarry users can just go inside, register their vehicle & continue on outside which is nice to hear.

It all seems a bit odd esp as the so called non genuine user can just go into Ratho and put their car registration in similar to climbing in the quarry.

Bit annoying and I hope I don't forget.

Who are the non- genuine users they are trying to target

Yes just done this today no problem and quick to do. Staff happy with this