Cost to park near Forest National to shoot up to €5 per hour

The cost to park in the streets around concert hall Forest National will go up starting in November. The municipality plans to create an event parking zone around the arena to try to get more visitors to take public transport.

The municipality was spurred into making the decision by ongoing complaints by local residents that they cannot find parking in their own neighbourhoods when an event in happening at Forest National.

In the event zone, drivers will have to pay €5 per hour to park. Maximum parking time will be 4.5 hours during events in the arena. Currently parking in the vicinity of Forest National is a green zone, which means €1 an hour and free after 18.00.

The hefty price is only a pilot project; a definitive decision will be taken later in the year. In the meantime, Forest National has deals with both Stib and SNCB. Every holder of a ticket to an event can use Stib for free to and from the venue. Those using the train can buy a ticket for half price.

Photo: Thomas Thielemans/BELGA