Parking charges lifted for festive shopping (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Parking charges lifted for festive shopping

3:47pm Wednesday 12th December 2012 in News

MOTORISTS visiting Hambleton’s market towns for some festive shopping will be able to grab some bargains when parking charges are lifted for ten days.

The district council is waiving fees from December 22 to January 2 on its car parks in Northallerton, Bedale, Stokesley and Thirsk.

Drivers will not need to pay - but must observe the existing short and long stay times to enable the turnover of available spaces to continue.

Charges will be removed from all off street short and long stay car parks operated by the district council from 6pm on December 21 until 8am on January 2.

“We are suspending charges during this time but ask employers to ensure that their staff do not take up the available spaces,” said local cabinet member Ron Kirk.

“We want to encourage businesses in our market towns and parking charges help to generate footfall by ensuring the turnover of parking spaces.

“The turnaround for each space is up to 13 vehicles a day – each one of them containing shoppers buying in our market town stores. So if there are 100 spaces that’s a potential 1,300 vehicles a day in those spaces.

“Clearly if they were filled with all day parkers and drivers cannot find a space to park they might shop elsewhere.”