Newport council has proposed offering two hours of free parking at a series of city centre car parks this winter to encourage Christmas shoppers. The incentive is planned to run from Monday, November 2, through to Sunday, January 3.
Under the proposal, drivers staying for up to two hours would park for free, while those visiting for longer would only pay for the extra time they remain. The council has described the initiative as a "Christmas treat" for visitors to the city centre.
Cabinet Approval and Car Parks Included
If approved by cabinet members next week, the incentive is expected to apply every day of the week. The scheme would cover council-owned multi-storey car parks at Kingsway and Park Square, as well as car parks at Emlyn Street, Faulkner Road, Hill Street, Riverfront, and Stow Hill.
A cabinet report indicates the scheme will be funded using around £130,000 from the council's reserves.
Political Reaction
Cllr Matthew Evans, who leads the Conservative opposition in the council chamber, welcomed the initiative, saying he had regularly called for such a measure during Christmas periods. He urged the cabinet to consider extending the scheme to cover more of January, adding that the investment required from the council was "a small amount to support our traders and get the public onside".
