Southwell Town Council town environment committee supported proposal to introduce free car parking on the last three Saturdays of December

Town councillors have supported a proposal to introduce free car parking during the festive season.

At a Southwell Town Council Environment meeting on Wednesday (November 13), members have proposed introducing free car parking for the last three Saturdays of December.

The aim behind the proposal is to support the shops in the town in the run-up to Christmas and encourage people to shop locally.

The proposal follows Newark and Sherwood District Council offering free weekend and bank holiday parking at its pay and display car parks from November 24 to December 29.

Despite wanting to promote the town's high street and its shops, the council would make an estimated loss of £876 during those three Saturdays.

Steve Perry said he was in favour of more people coming to the town centre, however, he asked if the free car parking would be beneficial for the town, or only a loss for the council.

Peter Brooker added: “I think restoring relationships with retailers is a good thing.”

The three council managed main car parks in Southwell town centre are Church Street, King Street, and The Brambley Centre car park.

Committee chairman Lynn Harris said: “I don’t want our traders to think we are not supporting the way that Newark is supporting its traders.

“I don’t want people thinking that they should go to Newark because Newark is free and not Southwell.”

The Town Environment committee was in favour of the proposal and it is to be decided and approved at the next Southwell Town Council finance meeting.