Free parking hoped to boost city over Christmas

Local TV

Newport City Centre will have free parking at its council car parks every Saturday leading up until Christmas. It’s hoped it’ll help shoppers get into the city centre and enjoy all the Christmas fun going on in the city.

Transcript

00:00It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Newport, and there's an early present

00:05for shoppers.

00:06The City Council has confirmed that parking will be free on Saturdays at seven council-owned

00:10car parks in the run-up to Christmas.

00:12The scheme launched this weekend on November 15th to tie in with the city's big countdown

00:17to Christmas event, which includes the light switch on by pop star Peter Andre.

00:21The initiative covers some of Newport's busiest parking spots, including Emlyn Street, Faulkner

00:26Road, Hill Street, Kingsway, Park Square, Riverfront and Stowhill.

00:30It'll run for seven consecutive Saturdays, including the final weekend before Christmas,

00:35but doesn't include Friars Walk car park which is privately owned.

00:38The move is expected to cost around £40,000 in lost parking income, but the council says

00:43it can fund it through a budget underspend, calling it an investment in the city centre's

00:47retail and leisure economy.

00:49Newport's Mayor and Labour councillor Kate Thomas, who represents the city centre, welcomed

00:53the decision, saying it shows the council's commitment to supporting local shops and businesses

00:58over the festive period.

00:59But not everyone is entirely satisfied with the plans.

01:02Conservative councillor and opposition leader Matthew Evans said he very much welcomes the

01:06free parking, calling it a step in the right direction, but not everyone is entirely satisfied

01:10with the plans.

01:11Conservative councillor and opposition leader Matthew Evans said he very much welcomes the

01:15free parking, calling it a step in the right direction, but he wants the council to

01:18go further by offering two free hours on weekdays as well.

01:22However, the councillors ruled out those options saying it would be unaffordable, and that offering

01:26free all-day parking on Saturdays gives people the best chance to enjoy everything the city

01:30centre has to offer, from shopping to dining to the Christmas market.

01:34The hope now is that free parking and festive fun draw people into Newport's high streets

01:38and help give businesses the seasonal boost they very much need.

01:41James Peach Watkins, reporting for Local TV.

01:44James Peach Watkins.

01:50�

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