Free hour of parking could be provided in Portsmouth in Christmas run-up - if lockdown ends

Portsmouth council's transport boss, Councillor Lynne Stagg, has revealed plans to provide additional parking in four of its car parks around the city, if shops open again before Christmas.

The same scheme was run by the council in September to support the re-opening of shops following the first lockdown.

However, it is dependent on whether the national lockdown is lifted on December 2 as originally suggested by prime minister Boris Johnson.

Cllr Stagg said: 'If shops are open again what we've said we will do is what we did in September, which is give people one hour extra free parking. So if you pay to park in one of the four car parks you get an extra hour free.

'Obviously we want to support businesses - they have been through a hell of a time.

'This is to encourage people to stay in the area for an extra hour and make use of the local businesses.'

It comes as Conservative councillors are calling on the council to consider providing two hours’ free parking for shoppers during the run-up to Christmas.

During a full council meeting tomorrow (Nov 10) Cllr Luke Stubbs will launch a debate on the subject.

He said: 'There's a lot of uncertainty about what's going to happen in December. It's a critical time of year for our retailers. So many of our shops make most of their profit during the run-up to Christmas.

'I think the council needs to do all it can to provide assistance, if it doesn't we are going to end up with even more empty shops and that's bad for everyone.

'Let's do something to try to provide some Christmas cheer for the retail sector.'

Car parks that would be included in the one-hour free scheme are the Clarence Street car park - near Cascades Shopping Centre, Ashby Place car park - behind Osborne Road, Stubbington Avenue car park in North End and Wootton Street car park in Cosham.

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