Details on the dates and locations for the free parking have been confirmed
In Whitstable, free parking will be available every Thursday between January 15 and March 26 at the Gorrell Tank and Middle Wall car parks.(Image: )
Canterbury City Council (CCC) has announced a new free parking initiative that will run this winter to support local businesses during the off season.
The free all day parking offer will run in Whitstable and Herne Bay between mid-January and the end of March, allowing residents to take advantage of more than 20 days of free parking.
In Herne Bay, parking will be free of charge every Wednesday from January 14 to March 25 at the William Street and Neptune car parks.
Over in Whitstable, free parking will be available every Thursday between January 15 and March 26 at the Gorrell Tank and Middle Wall car parks.
To take part, all residents will need to do is sign up to the Residents’ Rate Permit here. The permit also offers a 10 per cent discount at all ANPR car parks in bands 2 and 3 in the Canterbury City Council area until 9pm, as well as a 20 per cent discount at all three Canterbury Park and Ride sites.
Existing Residents’ Rate Permit holders do not need to take any action to benefit from the new offer in the coastal towns, as it will be automatically added to the permit.
Those who currently do not have a permit will need to apply for one before they arrive at the car parks mentioned in order to benefit from free parking.
Cabinet member for parking, Cllr Alex Ricketts, said: “The introduction of the Residents’ Rate Permit a couple of years ago was a real innovation and it’s been great to see local people benefitting from it through reduced prices at park and ride and car parks across the district. Since then we’ve been looking at other ways we can use this permit to further support residents and businesses.
“This new offer will help to bring more people into both town centres during those difficult winter months, and we hope lots of our residents will take advantage of it.”
The offer is being supported by the Canterbury Business Improvement District’s Visit Canterbury coastal team, including communications support and working with traders to list local business offers, activities and events on its website and through social media.
Cabinet member for the coastal towns, Cllr Chris Cornell, added: “Herne Bay and Whitstable are fantastic towns with a wide variety of excellent shops, restaurants and other outlets, and we really wanted to give them a helping hand at a time when the weather’s a bit rubbish and money is tight after Christmas.
“So don’t delay – if you haven’t already, sign up for the Residents’ Rate Permit, come and park for nothing, and spend a few quid to support our coastal towns.”
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