Free parking bonus for shoppers

A free parking initiative which aims to give shopkeepers a festive boost will be rolled out across Perth and Kinross today.

Businesses have welcomed the move to make all councilrun car parks free every Saturday in December.

The scheme is believed to be the biggest of its kind in Scotland. Perth and Kinross Council hope it will lure more people into Perth city centre and towns across the region during the run-up to Christmas.

Previously, the local authority had offered free parking after 2pm, but this was deemed confusing and ineffective. There was also no evidence to suggest it had actually worked.

The latest initiative, which effectively makes council-run car parks free all weekend, will cost the council around £25,000. However, it only applies to car parks and not on-street parking.

The scheme was approved at a meeting of the council’s environment, enterprise and infrastructure committee last month.

Convener Colin Stewart said: “We should look on this as a gesture of goodwill to the traders, as well as the people who want to spend more time in Perth.”

Dawn Fuge, who co-chairs the city’s traders’ association, said it could have wider benefits for hotels, restaurants, bars and guesthouses by encouraging more people to stay overnight.

She said traders had pledged they would not use up the free spaces for themselves.