Christmas free parking boost to town centre small businesses
Selby's ‘least favourite man’ will have some easier days at the office this December as parking fees at town centre car parks are set to be waived in the run up to Christmas.
Selby
Parking will be free at all of Selby District Council’s pay and display car parks on Saturday, December 7 as the authority lends its support to Small Business Saturday, a nation-wide initiative to promote small enterprises.
Shoppers will also be able to benefit from free parking on Saturday, December 21st – the last Saturday before Christmas. Those needing to nip out for last minute Christmas essentials will also be able to avail themselves of freebie parking on Christmas Eve.
Selby District Council’s Executive member for Communities, Cllr Chris Metcalfe, said, “We recognise the important role small family-run businesses play in our towns and hope that this free parking will encourage local residents to shop locally.
“I think that this will be a real boost for our businesses in the run-up to Christmas and it is a very positive step we can take to support our retailers at their most important time of year.
“Our district has a lot to offer shoppers including a wide range of small independent shops alongside the bigger stores. We want to bring visitors into the area and encourage residents to shop local too.”
The announcement should also mean that town centre shoppers will be able to take respite from Harrogate Council’s much derided parking enforcer.
Nicknamed ‘The Womble’ by disgruntled members of Selby’s SOS facebook group, the officer’s tactics have been the subject of crunch talks between town, district and county officials having been accused of being ‘ticket-happy’.