Free Sunday buses and free weekday parking after 3pm are being introduced this month to encourage shoppers to spend money in Harrogate’s shops this Christmas.
Harrogate Business Improvement District, which aims to boost the town centre, is behind both projects.
The ‘free after three’ parking initiative allows motorists to park in the Victoria car park on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays free of charge after 3pm.
It begins on Monday and will run until Christmas Eve.
The ‘Sunday Freeway’ initiative, which returns this year, gives people the chance to catch a free ride on one of Harrogate Bus Company’s electric buses on a Sunday.
It includes the 2A, 2B, 3 and 6 services, which link Bilton, Dene Park, The Knox, Jennyfield and Pannal Ash with the town centre. The initiative will run through December and into the New Year.
The projects are part of the BID’s Harrogate at Christmas campaign, which encourages shoppers to support local businesses after a difficult year that has seen many closures.
Harrogate BID acting chairman Sara Ferguson said:
“Because of the lockdown, traders in the town have already lost a month’s worth of business and are playing catchup.
“Now we are coming out of the second lockdown, we are launching these two initiatives to bring people into town, via two different modes of transport.”
Read more:
- Harrogate’s independent shops say they will wait to see how many shoppers return before opening late.
- Shops on Commercial Street have banded together to promote the street.
The Harrogate Bus Company chief executive Alex Hornby said:
“It’s amazing news for our town – reducing emissions and congestion, while making it easier for everyone to support our local economy and get our town’s traders back on their feet.
“Harrogate’s businesses have had an incredibly tough year, with two lockdowns and continued restrictions impacting everyone. It’s now up to us all to support them as they re-open for the crucial run-up to Christmas by taking advantage of free travel.”
