09/10/2009 - Free parking for Christmas shoppers
A free car parking scheme has been launched by a South Yorkshire council in a bid to help city centre shops in the run up to Christmas.
Sheffield City Council will wave charges on all city centre car parks during the seasonal period to help struggling shops who face competition from the city's Meadowhall shopping centre. It will run from November 22 until Boxing Day on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The city's Liberal Democrat council hopes the move will help festive sales in a difficult economic climate.
Council spokesman Colin Ross said: "We are delighted to announce this new scheme and I hope that it helps to bring in more business for retailers in the city centre.
"This year has been tough for many of them so we hope that this scheme can provide a boost. Liberal Democrats know just how important it is to support business in the present economic climate."
The move will be funded by savings from a previous VAT reduction on parking charges and money from the council's "recession fighting fund".
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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