Free parking to help you shop local
With so many small and independent retailers in our City and market towns, it’s not difficult to find unique gifts on your local high street this Christmas.
To support our local businesses as we head into the festive period, Herefordshire Council has been working with local partners, including town councils, to offer free parking in council car parks on the following dates:
- Ledbury – Friday 4 December
- Kington – Saturday 5 December
- Leominster – Saturday 12 December
- Ross – Saturday 19 December
- Hereford (city centre) – Council car parks, on street pay & display and the Old Market car park will be free for shoppers after 4pm on Wednesday 2, 9, 16 and 23 December.
Cllr John Harrington, Cabinet member infrastructure and transport said: “Like everywhere else in the country, our local retailers have been significantly impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. So, as we did when we came out of lockdown in the summer, we are offering free parking to help encourage everybody to shop local and support our local tradespeople.
“When we shop for gifts, food and drink, decorations, or any other festive items in our nearby small and independent retailers, we are investing in our local economy. Doing your Christmas shopping locally will help to support retailers and businesses across the county, giving them a helping hand during this difficult time, and strengthening our high streets so that they can thrive into the future.
“We are engaging with stakeholders at this moment to understand what they feel would benefit them most at this time, and whilst this is a changing picture we are keen to support local business further.”
To find out what retailers local to you have to offer, search the ‘Love Local’ map on the Herefordshire Council website at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/lovelocal
Note: Free parking concessions do not apply to any private car parks (except the Old Market in Hereford).
