Free parking offered in Portsmouth and Gosport to encourage Christmas shoppers to high street
and live on Freeview channel 276
Council-owned car parks will be free to park in for the whole of December, in a bid to drive commercial footfall.
In Portsmouth, the council will give an extra hour free when one hour of parking is purchased in Ashby Place in Southsea, Clarence Street near Commercial Road, Stubbington Avenue in North End and Wooton Street in Cosham.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMeanwhile, Gosport Borough Council is offering two hours of free parking in South Street in the town centre, as well as Flower Buidings and Marine Parade in Lee-on-the-Solent.
There is also one-hour stay on-street parking around Gosport High Street, monitored by Hampshire County Council.
No such initiatives have been introduced in Fareham or Havant.
Cllr Steve Pitt, deputy leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: ‘Once again we are committed to supporting a safe re-opening of businesses in the city and will be working closely with retailers to make sure they are managing their queues to make it as safe as possible for everyone using the high street.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad‘Remember there are lots of smaller, independent businesses across the city who really need your support.’
Leader of Gosport Borough Council, Cllr Mark Hook, added: ‘It’s important that we encourage people to use local businesses for their Christmas shopping – they’ve had a torrid time this year so it’s great to have that incentive there.
‘With the short stays it’s the equivalent of having 4,000 parking spots each day.
‘For the independents, the government has tried to help out with grants and everything, but I would ask people in Gosport to support their local traders. There is so much variety that there’s truly something for everyone – the high street is so much more than just coffee shops and charity shops, like some people suggest.’
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdShoppers are reminded to follow the latest government guidelines around social distancing both when queuing and shopping, and to wear face coverings in shops, unless exempt.
Customers should also keep two metres from anyone outside of their household or support bubble when in enclosed spaces.
A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron
You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news online - as well as fewer adverts, access to our digital edition and mobile app.
For Black Friday we’ve slashed the cost of a new subscription by 30 per cent - so you can get unlimited access to our coverage for as little as £1.40 a month.
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.