Free parking for South Norfolk market towns on two days before Christmas

South Norfolk Council has moved to support trade and local businesses by extending free car parking this year to two days before Christmas.

The Council is making its car parks free on Saturday 19 December, the busiest shopping day and the final Saturday before Christmas. The decision to do that last year was welcomed by traders and shoppers.

But the Council has now extended that free parking in its car parks to include Christmas Eve.

It follows continuing concern and frustration among retailers and traders in Diss over rail bridge work which will seriously affect one of the main roads into the town. The bridge closes from 6am on Christmas Eve.

Councillor David Bills, Cabinet Member responsible for the district council's car parks, said:

"I was approached by my colleague Councillor Jeremy Savage after the district council's first Market Towns Task Group meeting which he chaired in Diss this week.

"He asked me if we could extend free parking to Christmas Eve because of the rail bridge work which will affect this important road into Diss.

"I thought it was an excellent idea, not just for Diss, but for all our car parks and market towns."

Councillor Jeremy Savage, Chairman of the Market Towns Task Group said:

"Many people in Diss, especially traders and retailers, are very frustrated by the decision to do this bridge work at a critically important moment. It will affect Victoria Road from 6am on Christmas Eve, of all days.

"This is the busiest main road into this superb market town which attracts thousands of visitors and shoppers who all come to enjoy the Christmas lights and the unique shopping experience.

"Now we have provided an added incentive for people to beat this blockade on Christmas Eve, park free and enjoy the delights of Diss this Christmas."

The rail bridge issue came up at the Task Group meeting in the Corn Hall on Wednesday evening (2 December).

Councillor Savage, who chaired the meeting, told traders who packed into the Waveney Room that the district council was there to support them, and to help them help themselves.

He said the district council would come back with some quick wins and some longer term suggestions.

Free parking on Christmas Eve is one of the first quick wins to emerge, within 48 hours of the meeting.

The car parks which will be free on Saturday 19 December and on Thursday 24 December will be:

Diss: Park Road, Chapel Street Lower, Chapel Street Upper, Church Street, Weavers Court, Mount Street, Shelfanger Road East, Shelfanger Road West.

Wymondham: Back Lane, Town Green, Market Street, Cemetery Lane.

Loddon: Staithe, Church Plain.

In Harleston, Broad Street and Bullock Fair Close car parks are managed by the Town Council and are free.

In Wymondham, Central Hall car park is privately owned.

Signs will be placed in the South Norfolk Council car parks alerting visitors and shoppers to the free parking on the two days.

Related pages

• Latest news