New Year's Free Parking Boost for Sales Shoppers and Town Centre Traders

The prolonged period of snow and freezing temperatures was damaging to local businesses in range of ways, with town centre retailers hit, for example, by reduced numbers of people being able to get into town. To support traders and give local shoppers a boost, we offered free parking on Boxing Day in all town centre multi-storey car parks, with the offer to be repeated on New Year's Day.

Having seen the way local business suffered from the extreme weather conditions I wanted to support them at what is a very important time for the local economy. I hope the free parking on Boxing Day, with New Year's Day to follow, has helped kick-start January sales shopping in Bedford.

As part of the Buy in Bedford campaign I launched earlier this month, I am determined to do all I can to support local businesses, especially at this time of year. Offering free parking on New Years Day, as well as Boxing Day follows our offer of free parking for a week at the end of November and is part of our ongoing commitment to support local businesses.