Free Christmas parking slashed as funds run dry

Published on Wednesday 21 October 2009 09:47

FREE parking over Christmas is to be slashed due to a shortage of funds.

The city council today confirmed longer periods of free parking will come into force nearly a month later this year – an extra four weeks would have cost it 70,000.

Businesses said the 26 November start date this year, rather than 1 November like last year, is "regrettable".

They welcomed wider plans to improve Christmas marketing in the city – which it is hoped will help attract shoppers to the city centre.

The additional hours of free parking will remain the same as last year, from 1pm-6:30pm on Saturdays and 5:30pm-6:30pm on weekdays.

It will be available across the city centre, as well as in the West End, Old Town, Tollcross and Grassmarket.

Michael Dixon, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses in Edinburgh, said: "Whilst it is regrettable that it isn't as generous as funding allowed it to be last year, it is nevertheless a positive contribution."

He said last year's earlier free parking had been "well received".

The extra free parking offered between 1-25 November last year was estimated to have cost 70,000 in lost revenue.

However, these costs were covered by the Open for Business campaign.

It is understood the group is focusing its budget on other initiatives

and the council was not willing to pick up the tab for the lost revenues itself.

David Legge, a spokesman for the Association of British Drivers, said the move would encourage motorists to head out of Edinburgh in favour of places like Livingston.

Ron Hewitt, chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: "We welcome the city's vision."