SHOPPERS will be able to park for free on Saturdays in the district’s council-owned car parks in the run-up to Christmas.

Leader of the council, councillor Chris Whitbread said: “We understand that the Christmas trading period is one of the most important and busiest times for retailers and therefore we want to show them our support. For the past few years the Council has provided free car parking in all the Council’s car parks on Saturdays in December. We will be repeating this again this year. I am sure that this will have a very positive impact both on trade and footfall and will help to re-inforce our mission to keep our town centres alive and prosperous.”

Councillor Gary Waller, whose portfolio includes responsibility for car parks said: “This is something the Council does every year in order to help boost Christmas trade and increase shopping footfall in the shopping centres across the district. We hope that it will have a beneficial impact on the vibrancy of the town centres.”

Car parking will be free on every Saturday in December, (7, 14, 21 and 28) and on the three Bank Holidays (25 and 26 December and 1 January).

Although parking will be free, it should be noted that the normal conditions in respect of the car parks will remain in force and Civil Enforcement Officers will be patrolling as usual.

Councillor Whitbread continued: “This Council already provides all the year round free parking on Saturdays in the Council’s long stay car parks and this extension to cover all car parks in the run up to Christmas is another way to support our local economy. I would encourage residents to shop local this Christmas to back our local businesses.”

In addition to the free parking above, the car parks in Cottis Lane and Bakers Lane in Epping will be free from 12 noon in support of Epping Town Council’s Christmas Market on Friday 6 December.

Councillor Whitbread said: “We want to show our support for Small Business Saturday this year, which is a national campaign to encourage more people to shop locally on Saturday 7 December. An important way to do this is by introducing free car parking.

“I would also like to say that our local shops are for life, not just for Christmas and so please remember to shop locally for the rest of the year, too!”