Free Christmas parking to tempt Shropshire and Mid Wales shoppers
Free car parking will be introduced in towns in a bid to boost trade in the run-up to Christmas.
Powys County Council said its main car parks in towns across the area would have free parking from Saturday until Christmas Eve between 10am and 6pm, after the council's cabinet members agreed not to take their full salary entitlement, generating savings of £47,000.
The move echoes various schemes by Shropshire Council and town councils across the border in the run up to the festive period.
In Shrewsbury, Shropshire Council has started its festive park and ride service which will run every Wednesday up until Christmas. People can either travel free on Park & Ride, or park free in council-owned long-stay car parks after 4pm. Applicable car parks are Frankwell Main, St. Julian's Friars and Abbey Foregate.
Meanwhile, in Ludlow, people will be able to park for free on all Shropshire Council car parks in the town from 2pm to 6pm on the first three Tuesdays in December.
The concession is linked with the special Tinsel Tuesday gift markets that are running again in Ludlow after proving a big success in 2012 in their debut year.
In Oswestry, parking will be free in Oswestry Town Council's car parks from 2pm from December 16 to Christmas Eve.
Councillor Barry Thomas, Powys cabinet member for highways, said he hoped it would lead to more people doing their shopping locally. He said: "While there are signs of improvement in the economy, businesses throughout the county are still going through a very difficult time and we want to provide practical support for them and help stimulate economic activity.
"Free parking for the whole of December was ruled out due to cost and because it would have allowed spaces intended for shoppers to be used by workers or residents and the intended benefit to shopkeepers would be reduced."
The council's cabinet has again agreed the initiative would be paid for by using money saved when cabinet members gave up their special responsibility allowance. The initiative only applies to off-street car parks and does not alter existing on-street parking restrictions.
Parking in your area:
Telford - Visitors to Telford Shopping Centre must pay to park, but 23 out of 28 council car parks in Telford & Wrekin are free. Visitors to Ironbridge are charged in pay and display car parks.
Shrewsbury – free park and ride service to the town every Wednesday until Christmas. Free parking is also in place on Shropshire Council owned long-stay car parks after 4pm on Wednesdays.
Ludlow – free parking on all Shropshire Council car parks from 2pm to 6pm on the first three Tuesdays in December.
Oswestry – Parking will be free in Oswestry Town Council's car parks from 2pm from December 16 to Christmas Eve (updated November 29, 2013).
Powys – all county council car parks to be free of charge from 10am to 6pm from December 7 to December 24.
Free car parking will be introduced in towns in a bid to boost trade in the run-up to Christmas.
Powys County Council said its main car parks in towns across the area would have free parking from Saturday until Christmas Eve between 10am and 6pm, after the council's cabinet members agreed not to take their full salary entitlement, generating savings of £47,000.
The move echoes various schemes by Shropshire Council and town councils across the border in the run up to the festive period.
In Shrewsbury, Shropshire Council has started its festive park and ride service which will run every Wednesday up until Christmas. People can either travel free on Park & Ride, or park free in council-owned long-stay car parks after 4pm. Applicable car parks are Frankwell Main, St. Julian's Friars and Abbey Foregate.
Success
Meanwhile, in Ludlow, people will be able to park for free on all Shropshire Council car parks in the town from 2pm to 6pm on the first three Tuesdays in December.
The concession is linked with the special Tinsel Tuesday gift markets that are running again in Ludlow after proving a big success in 2012 in their debut year.
In Oswestry, the town council will be discussing whether to bring in festive parking measures, which has been called for by the town's chamber of commerce, today.
Councillor Barry Thomas, Powys cabinet member for highways, said he hoped it would lead to more people doing their shopping locally. He said: "While there are signs of improvement in the economy, businesses throughout the county are still going through a very difficult time and we want to provide practical support for them and help stimulate economic activity.
"Free parking for the whole of December was ruled out due to cost and because it would have allowed spaces intended for shoppers to be used by workers or residents and the intended benefit to shopkeepers would be reduced."
The council's cabinet has again agreed the initiative would be paid for by using money saved when cabinet members gave up their special responsibility allowance. The initiative only applies to off-street car parks and does not alter existing on-street parking restrictions.
