Free Christmas parking offer announced for Preston

Three Preston car parks will be free to use on a total of 22 days in the run-up to Christmas as part of a push to encourage more people to visit the city centre.

Fees will be waived for all or part of the day at the bus station car park and the facilities at Penny Street and Trinity Square (see full list below).

The offer begins at 1pm on 21st November to coincide with Preston’s Christmas lights switch-on that evening, headlined by East 17. The University of Lancashire will also be giving free access to its city car parks for that occasion.

Then, during December, the car park at the bus station – operated by Lancashire County Council – and those belonging to Preston City Council at Penny Street, which is accessed from North Road, and Trinity Square, off Market Street West, will be free every Sunday until Christmas.

There will also be no charge to use them after 3pm on weekdays from 1st December. From 21st December, the bus station facility will be free all day, as will those at Penny Street and Trinity Square on Christmas Eve.

A post-Christmas free parking promotion runs at the sites from 3pm each day between 28th December and New Year’s Day.

It comes after the two local authorities agreed to the majority of what has become an annual request from Preston’s Business Improvement District (BID).

BID manager Mark Whittle told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the organisation was “grateful” for the support.

“December is a key time for retail and hospitality businesses – and the convenience of not having to pay to park makes it that little bit easier for people to choose Preston, especially with lots of additional activities and events this year,” Mr. Whittle said.

The city council opted to offer free parking at Penny Street and Trinity Square only from 3pm between 21st and 23rd December, rather than all day as BID had sought.

A report outlining the decision revealed the expected overall loss of income to the town hall as a result of its participation in the offer – on two of its “quieter” car parks – is estimated to be around £3,600.

It added: “The festive free parking initiative has proved successful in the past, being popular with both customers and retailers alike. Free car parking is seen as an important part of the package of measures that are put in place to both stimulate demand for local businesses and best manage the impacts of this demand on the highway network and car park facilities.

“It is important to support the local economy given the inflationary pressures on peoples’ budgets and the alternative shopping offers available both online and out of town. However, at the same time, the city council relies upon car parking income to support public services and therefore this should be borne in mind when considering which facilities and which periods are offered free during the Christmas season.”

FULL LIST OF FREE FESTIVE PARKING IN PRESTON

Saturday 21st November (Christmas lights switch-on)

Bus station, Penny Street, Trinity Square and University of Lancashire car parks

Free from 1pm

Tuesday 1st – Friday 4th December

Bus station, Penny Street and Trinity Square car parks

Free from 3pm

Sunday 6th December

Bus station, Penny Street and Trinity Square car parks

Free all day

Monday 7th – Friday 11th December

Bus station, Penny Street and Trinity Square car parks

Free from 3pm onwards

Sunday 13th December

Bus station, Penny Street and Trinity Square car parks

Free all day

Monday 14th – Friday 18th December

Bus station, Penny Street and Trinity Square car parks

Free from 3pm onwards

Sunday 20th December

Bus station, Penny Street and Trinity Square car parks

Free all day

Monday 21st – Wednesday 23rd December

Bus station car park

Free all day

Penny Street and Trinity Square car parks

Free from 3pm

Thursday 24th December

Bus station, Penny Street and Trinity Square car parks

Free all day

Monday 28th December – Friday 1st January

Bus station, Penny Street and Trinity Square car parks

Free from 3pm