30 minute free parking concession extended

Shoppers and visitors to town centres will continue to have 30 minutes free parking added to their parking tickets until 10 January.

Councillors agreed to continue giving an additional 30 minutes free parking at last night’s full council meeting.

The concession was initially introduced in July to give people more time to carry essential jobs in high streets, which could take longer due to businesses needing to comply with coronavirus safety measures.

Cllr Richard Palmer, cabinet member for communities at Swale Borough Council, said:

“With people needing to social distance, there are more queues in our high streets, and it does take longer for individuals to undertake their business.

“Extending this concession until the New Year will help encourage people to stay longer, and hopefully make use of the local businesses which are so important in our town centres.

“There is no doubt that for many residents there is a confidence issue for residents to get back out using the town centre.

“But measures like this, and the pedestrianisation of town centres, mean people can visit safely, keep their distance and help us stop the spread.”

Enforcement officers will continue to add an extra 30 minutes to the expiry time when checking tickets in windows and will also be applied to users of RingGo.

The concession applies to all council car parks except the Bourne Place Multi Storey Car Park, as this is a pay on return, barriered car park and such a concession cannot be applied.

Council Website

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