The tradition started by the Liberal Democrats of offering free Christmas parking to help boost Maidenhead and Windsor town centres, has continued into another year.
Free Saturday parking in Maidenhead
In Maidenhead there will be free parking in council car parks every Saturday from 23 November (the date of the traditional switch-on of the Christmas lights).
With Sunday parking already free, this means shoppers can make the most of town centre shops, cafés and restaurants in the five busy weekends in the run up to Christmas.
Free-all-weekend parking will run on 23/24 and 30 November/1 December and 7/8, 14/15 and 21/22 December at the following council car parks in Maidenhead town centre: Broadway (Nicholsons Shopping Centre), Town Hall, Grove Road, Hines Meadow, Stafferton Way and West Street.
Free and discounted parking in Windsor and Eton
In Windsor and Eton there will be free parking after 4pm for the switching on of the Christmas lights (Saturday 16 November in Windsor and Thursday 21 November in Eton) and every Thursday between 28 November and 19 December and on Christmas Eve.
Other seasonal parking offers in Windsor:
• free parking all day on Sundays from 1 to 22 December, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day at council car parks in Alma Road, Alexandra Gardens, Romney Lock, Victoria Street, Eton Court, Meadow Lane and King Edward VII car park (Datchet Road)
• a £2 flat rate charge for cars at the Alma Road coach park between 10am and 4pm from 14 December
• Centrica weekend park and ride – up to four hours parking between 10am and 6pm for only £2.50 (£2.00 for Advantage card holders) with a regular free bus to and from the town centre (gates close 7pm). The park and ride will be open for business on the weekends of 16/17 and 23/24 November, 30 November/1 December, 7/8, 14/15 and 21/22 December.
Cllr Simon Werner, said: “It is vital that the council does everything possible to boost the economy of the borough’s town centres and help make them as attractive and accessible as possible to shoppers – both local residents and from much further afield. This is a small but vital step.”
Full details of Royal Borough car parks is available at www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/parking_index.htm