Derry is to benefit from a reduction in charges in Road Service car parks during the festive shopping period and New Year sales, it has been announced.
Twenty-five towns across the North are set to benefit from a special Christmas parking rate which will see the introduction of a new reduced tariff of five hours parking for a pound in 95 Road Service car parks.
Limavady and Strabane are among the towns set to benefit.
Announcing the charges, Transport Minister Danny Kennedy said: “Retailers across Northern Ireland have been suffering from the economic downturn and I know that the festive season is a key period for them financially.
Last week, the Minister announced a Christmas transport package for shoppers and traders which included free park and ride services in Derry, Belfast, Lisburn and Newry during late night shopping days and also on Saturdays as well as fare promotions and an embargo on road works over the Christmas period.
Mr Kennedy added: “I also wanted to ensure that other areas received some assistance which would encourage shoppers to go into towns over the Christmas period. That is why I have decided to introduce a new reduced tariff of five hours for one pound across 95 of my Department’s car parks.”
The new tariff will be introduced from Monday next 2 December and ontinue until 11 January and will apply to car parks that have a tariff of 30p or more per hour.
Drivers will still be able pay the minimum tariff in each car park: for example most car parks have a tariff of 40p per hour so if someone wants to stay for less than an hour they pay 40p.
The Minister said he had decided to run the scheme into January to ensure the public had time to “shop at their leisure” in the run-up to Christmas and during the New Year sales.
He concluded: “I am confident these measures will provide a welcome boost for traders and would encourage the public to continue to support their local economy and shop local.”
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