Free carparking for late-night shoppers

Free carparking will be available after 5pm in Newark on the three Wednesdays in the lead-up to Christmas.

Newark and Sherwood District Council cabinet agreed to a request from Newark Business Club that the council should allow free parking at all its carparks to coincide with late-night shopping.

Last year free parking was provided all day at the Livestock Market carpark next to the Castle Station on the three Saturdays before Christmas, costing the council £900 in lost income.

Mr Andrew Statham, director for community, said it had been suggested that the beneficial effect on helping retailers in Newark was limited as many users of the free parking used it to then get a train to Nottingham or Lincoln.

He said the business club’s retail group was working with the business manager for carparking and markets, Mr Ian Harrison, to help stimulate attractions to protect and, if possible, grow footfall in Newark.

One of the latest projects was to organise the late-night opening of most multiple and many independent shops on the three Wednesdays in December.

Mr Statham said if the council allowed free parking on those evenings through to 8am on Thursdays it would incur a reduction in income of about £700.

He said: “It would provide an attraction to consumers and support the Newark retail sector in the current difficult trading climate.”

Mr Bruce Laughton said he was happy to support the idea and hoped it would help businesses in Newark.

The council leader, Mr Roger Blaney, said it was a positive initiative.

Newark’s Christmas lights will be switched on on Sunday, November 25, by the Mayor of Newark, Mrs Irene Brown.

Before the switch-on there will be live entertainment in the Market Place during the day with performances by the winners of the schools’ carol singing competition and local bands.

There will be a charity and craft market and fairground rides.

The switch-on will be followed by a fireworks display.