Free parking plan to boost business

Parking mad According to reader Geoff Race, the one-way system and the volume traffic coming into Blackpool created havoc on the roads around Central Car Park

The council is hoping the scheme, entitled Small Business Saturday, will help effort to promote local businesses and encourage residents to shop locally.

It is hoped the free parking on 6th December will have a lasting effect on small businesses.

Council leader Chris Baron said: “As a council we are fully supportive of this campaign and want to encourage people to take advantage of free parking and support their local shops rather than shopping online and giving their money to large corporations.

“There are many unique and independent shops and markets in Ashfield and I hope they benefit from this scheme.”

Chad readers gave their reaction on Facebook. Here are a selection of their comments:

l Sam Pickering: “They do it on a Sunday, so if they extended it to a Saturday it would be great.

“More people would be using town and the council would not have to pay staff to warden its car parks.”

l Joanne Gilbert: “One thing that keeps me out of town is parking costs.”

l Steve Winnals: “It keeps me out of town when they play stupid Christmas songs in November.”

For more information on the location and capacity of Ashfield carparks use the following link: goo.gl/d8lFbc or phone the council on 01623 450000.