Hundreds of free parking spaces to help kick off Christmas festivities
Parking in hundreds of council car park spaces will be FREE to help get this year’s Christmas celebrations underway.
In Canterbury, visitors will not have to pay a penny to use Canterbury City Council’s Park and Ride service to see the city centre’s Christmas lights come to life on Friday 15 November.
From 3pm that day, they will be able to park at the New Dover Road, Sturry Road and Wincheap sites and hop on a bus straight to the festivities. Buses run every eight minutes.
Those parking at the Sturry Road and New Dover Road sites will be able to use regular Stagecoach bus services to get back to their car once the Park and Ride buses stop at 9.30pm.
There will also be free parking from midday in William Street car park in Herne Bay on Sunday 17 November for the town’s Christmas light switch-on event as well as on Sunday 15 December for the Santas on the Run Pilgrims Hospice charity event.
Plus, people driving in for Whitstable’s Christmas light switch-on event will be able to park for free at the Middle Wall and Gorrell Tank car parks from 3pm on Saturday 30 November.
Cllr Alex Ricketts, Cabinet Member for Tourism, Transport and Rural Champion, said: “Seeing the Christmas lights switched on in Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable is second only to seeing the faces of everyone there light up as well, and all those involved in making these events happen are shining stars.
“We wanted to do our bit too so that as many people as possible enjoy the magic and see what the city and our coastal towns have to offer this year.
“We’re convinced that once people give Park and Ride a try, they will keep coming back especially when they realise how cheap it is for a car and up to six people and how it is even cheaper with the council’s resident rate.
“It is the best way to beat congestion and takes the hassle out of the queues especially during the Christmas period.”
The Canterbury Christmas light switch-on event is organised by the Canterbury Business Improvement District (BID) and you can find out more about the event here.
You can also find out more about the Park and Ride service here.
Published: 7 November 2024