Free festive parking for Dales shoppers - for an EIGHTH year in a row

Derbyshire Dales District Council parks and streetscene officer Helen Carrington with one of the free parking posters that go up on 1 December.

It is the eighth year in a row Derbyshire Dales District has introduced the scheme designed to boost trade and encourage folk to shop locally.

Motorists will be able to park for free after 2pm from December 1 in any council car park.

Council leader, Coun Lewis Rose, said: “Boosting the local economy is our new number one priority, so, despite the continuing financial squeeze, we remain absolutely committed to doing everything we can to encourage people to shop locally.

“The free parking from 2pm throughout December comes on top of residents’ parking concessions that allow local people to park free every day of the year up to 11am and after 4pm.

“This means Dales residents have free parking for 21 hours each day over the festive period, which helps local people and local traders.”

Free parking extends to midnight each day, with Coun Rose adding that the council would like nothing more for parking and other services to be ‘absolutely free at all times’.

He added: “But the reality is that car parking income plays an important role in helping us to maintain some of the excellent car parking, environmental and recreational services we provide for local people and visitors.

“It is great news however that we have managed once again this year to retain the free parking permit for every one of our 34,000 households.”