Southsea shops set for boost as council rolls out free parking scheme

SOUTHSEA shoppers are set to save money thanks to a new free parking scheme.

Portsmouth City Council has introduced free parking from 3pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday, in Ashby Place car park, off Osborne Road and behind businesses in Palmerston Road.

The initiative will run for 12 months, with the aim of encouraging more shoppers to the area and boosting the profits of local shops and businesses. The move follows the introduction of an identical scheme in North End’s Stubbington Avenue car park in December.

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Tory planning, regeneration and economic development boss Luke Stubbs said: ‘Parking prices are one of the few things the council has the power to change that can benefit businesses. We’re always keen to try new initiatives, we want to attract more people to the area and hopefully the money they save in parking will be spent in the shops.’

Tory traffic boss Ken Ellcome said: ‘I hope the introduction of a “free from three” initiative in Ashby Place will help the area.’