Glasgow City Council will make five of its car parks free to use every Saturday and Sunday in December, in a move aimed at easing the cost of Christmas shopping and boosting high-street retail.
Five car parks free at weekends
The initiative, announced at the State of the City Economy conference in Glasgow on November 13, will cover every weekend in December. Normal weekend prices will return on January 2 and 3.
The car parks included are Cambridge Street, Cadogan Street, Charing Cross, Concert Square and Duke Street. Some of these, such as Cambridge Street, Cadogan Street and Charing Cross, can cost up to £32 a day for nine to 10 hours of parking.
Parking charges frozen next year
The free parking was pushed by Ricky Bell, leader of Glasgow City Council. He said the cost of parking in the city centre is now too high, and revealed that parking charges across the city are set to be frozen next year.
Bell said: "In a cost-of-living crisis, the cost of getting around town can be a barrier to folk accessing the town for shopping or a night out."
"The introduction of the bus fare cap and the removal of peak fares on trains have helped - but there is more I want to do about affordability."
Private operators urged to match offer
Bell added: "We need to put our hands up when we’ve not got something quite right – and I think we’ve pitched the price of parking in the city centre too high. I’m committed to not raising parking costs in the city centre for the next couple of years – but I want to do more."
While the free parking will only apply to council-owned car parks, the leader is urging private operators to match the council's offer. It is hoped the measures will help boost business in Glasgow over the festive season by making it more affordable for families and shoppers to park in the city.
