Archived press release

Date Published: 05/11/08

Free parking bonus for Xmas shoppers

AVDC’s cabinet last night announced (4 November) that parking will be free on Saturdays in its car parks in the run up to Christmas.

The dates where it will apply are Saturday 6, 13 and 20 December.

Councillor Kevin McPartland, the Cabinet Member for Civic Amenities explained, “Over the past few weeks we’ve been listening to traders about their concerns regarding footfall in the town centre, especially given the economic slow down. We appreciate that the Christmas period is vital and so we have been happy to have a re-look at what we can do to help. We have a pool of government money which is set aside to help support the local economy and have decided to use some of this to enable the free parking to go ahead. There is not a simple solution to bucking the national economic trend but I think both this decision and our decision last week to extend the current operating arrangements for the market show that we are prepared to make changes and do what we can to support local trade.

“We hope Aylesbury businesses will grab the opportunity to use this ‘good news story’ in their Christmas marketing programmes and thus boost the Vale’s economy in what are extremely difficult trading conditions.”

Roger Simmons, Chairman of the Aylesbury Town Centre Partnership and Manager of the Hale Leys shopping centre added, “I think this an excellent decision which will encourage shoppers to come to the town and return during the Christmas period. I’m sure that all traders will be very pleased with the news”.