To support local people and families in the lead up to Christmas, the council will provide free parking in district centre car parks.

Parking will be free from 10am on Saturday 13, Sunday 14, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 December. Payment is required between 8am and 10am to assist with keeping spaces available for customers later in the day but will not be required from 10am onwards. Other restrictions such as parking within marked bays and displaying a Blue Badge in disabled parking bays should still be followed. The free Christmas parking will apply to the following car parks:

• Bitterne:
  • Angel Crescent
  • Commercial Street
  • Lances Hill
  • Peartree Gardens
  • West End Road
  • Whites Road
• Portswood
  • Westridge Road
• Shirley
  • Bright Glade
  • Cannon Street
  • Howard’s Grove
  • Marlborough Road North
  • Marlborough Road South
• Woolston
  • Colonnade
  • Oakbank Road
  • Portsmouth Road
  • Woodley Road North
  • Woodley Road South

Together with the £1 evening bus fare and £3 weekend Park & Ride from Adanac Park in the west of the city, the council is aiming to support local people and especially families at this time of year when there are so many other calls on their budgets.

In the run up to Small Business Saturday next week, it’s also the perfect time to highlight the many wonderful independent local businesses that you can find in Bitterne, Portswood, Shirley and Woolston.

Local independent businesses are the lifeblood of our communities with often unique products, a properly personal service and employment opportunities for local people.

Councillor Christie Lambert, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “I am delighted to be able to announce the free parking in our district centre car parks over this Christmas period, making it one less thing for local people to have to consider.

“The national Small Business Saturday and our own Southampton Loves Local campaigns aim to raise awareness of the great things that local small and independent businesses offer to their customers and communities and I would encourage everyone to explore their local shops for unique gifts and party supplies this Christmas.”