Hampshire

New Parking Rules At The Quays In Southampton Offer Three Hours Free

By

Karen McGinn
21 February 2026, 4:33 pm

Visitors to The Quays Swimming & Diving Complex in Southampton, Hampshire, will follow new parking rules starting March 1, 2026. The local council is transferring management of the north and south car parks to BH Live Active, which will use a camera system to track vehicle number plates.

Under the new rules, existing parking permits and council season tickets will no longer be valid at the complex. According to BH Live Active, people using the gym or pool can still get up to three hours of free parking by typing their car registration number into a tablet inside the building when they arrive.

A private company called Horizon Parking has been hired to manage the car parks and will issue fines to those who do not follow the new process. This 24-hour enforcement applies to everyone, including Blue Badge holders and those with disabled tax exempt vehicles, who must now register their details inside to get free parking.

For visitors who are not using the leisure centre or those who stay longer than three hours, charges will range from £1 for one hour up to £10 for a full day. While council leaders suggest the change will make visits easier, some local critics worry that visitors might face unfair fines if they forget to register their vehicles.