People driving to Harrogate will be able to park for free in the Jubilee Multi-Storey Car Park from 4pm on each day next week.
Harrogate Business Improvement District is funding the initiative to give traders an autumn boost before the busy Christmas period.
It is timed to coincide with three events next week. They are Harrogate BIDs Harrogate Music Weekender, the Visit Harrogate Restaurant Week and Harrogate Theatre’s Comedy Festival.
Free parking will be available from Monday, October 9 to Sunday, October 15 from 4pm until the car park closes, which is at 11pm from Monday to Wednesday and on Sunday and at midnight on Thursday to Saturday.
The initiative follows on from the free parking after 3pm scheme Harrogate BID ran in the lead up to Christmas last year.
Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, said:
“This is just one of the examples of how Harrogate BID is supporting town centre businesses and partner events.
“By providing free parking in Harrogate during this exciting week of events, we are giving residents and visitors an added incentive to come into town to shop, eat, drink and enjoy three great Harrogate initiatives.”
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Natalie Rawel, marketing manager at Harrogate Theatre, said:
“Free parking for this week of the comedy festival will be brilliant for our audiences as it means they can drive into the centre of town without having to think about where to park and how much it might cost.”
The photo shows (left to right) Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, Natalie Rawel, Harrogate Theatre marketing manager, Helen Suckling, partnership and commercial manager at Destination Harrogate and Bethany Allen, marketing and business executive at Harrogate BID
Free Saturday parking to return in Harrogate after ‘technical error’A “technical error” that left drivers unable to take advantage of planned free parking has been corrected for the coming weekend.
Harrogate BID had organised the offer to run in the Victoria Car Park, from 10am to 6pm, every Saturday until February 18.
However, shoppers who had parked after 10am last Saturday were shocked to find they had to pay for their parking on departure.
Harrogate BID has apologised for the error and said it has offered refunds to people who were charged.
BID manager Matthew Chapman added:
“We would like to apologise to those who came into town last Saturday to take advantage of BID-funded free parking in Victoria Car Park and were asked to pay.
“This was an oversight by our Harrogate Borough colleagues who had not set the payment metres for a new month, and we have offered refunds to those who inadvertently had to pay.
“I’d like to reassure those coming into Harrogate either this Saturday and the following Saturday, February 11 and February 18, that they can park for free between 10am and 6pm in Victoria Car Park.”
One resident, who asked not to be named, said signage for the free parking had been in place when she arrived around 10.30am on Saturday.
However, by the time she left at 2pm, the signage had been removed.
She said a parking attendant told her the offer had been “pulled”, and she saw several “angry” people complaining.
A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said:
“Unfortunately, due to a technical error, free parking wasn’t available in Victoria car park in Harrogate on Saturday, February 4 as planned.
“We can confirm free parking will be available at Victoria car park on the next two Saturdays, thanks to Harrogate BID.”
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Harrogate offers free Saturday parking to boost sales post Xmas
Harrogate shoppers will be able to park for free over the next five Saturdays to give the town centre a post-Christmas boost.
Free parking will be available in the Victoria car park on January 21 and 28, and February 4, 11 and 18 between 10am and 6pm. The initiative has been funded by the Harrogate Business Investment District (BID).
It comes after the Christmas ‘Free after Three’ initiative, where the BID funded free parking on the first four days of the week from Monday, December 5, until Thursday, January 5, 2023, to support retailers during the traditionally quieter days of the week.
Harrogate BID Manager Matthew Chapman said:
“This is one of the examples of how Harrogate BID is supporting town centre businesses, in particular those in the retail and hospitality sectors.
“Thanks to the efforts of a number of organisations, including Harrogate BID, businesses in retail and hospitality saw increased sales, including some reporting their best December in many years.
“By providing free parking in Harrogate over the next five Saturdays, we are giving residents and visitors an added incentive to come in to town to shop, eat and drink, to continue the positivity into the new year.
“Eight hours free parking gives people plenty of time to explore the great shops and enjoy a bite to eat in one of our many excellent bars, restaurants and cafes.”
The BID has also sponsored the ‘Sunday Freeway’ during January and February which provides bus passengers with free travel into the town centre on The Harrogate Bus Company’s buses.
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Free Christmas parking returns this week at Harrogate’s Victoria Car Park
Free weekday parking is being introduced in Harrogate’s Victoria Car Park this week until early January to attract Christmas shoppers.
Harrogate Business Improvement District is funding the initiative as part of its mission to drive town centre footfall.
From this week until Thursday, January 5 — free parking will be available between 3pm and 7.30pm in the Victoria Car Park on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The ‘free after three’ campaign encourages town centre visitors on quieter days of the week, helping Harrogate’s retail, hospitality and entertainment sectors.
Harrogate BID manager Matthew Chapman said:
“Once again, we are delivering on our pledge to retailers to provide free parking in the town centre during the run up to Christmas, which is traditionally one of the busiest periods in their calendar.
“And whereas in the two previous years ‘free after three’ has ended just before Christmas, I’m delighted to say that this time we are extending it right through to Thursday, January 5, which we know will be beneficial to both visitors and businesses.
“‘Free after Three’ is only available in Victoria Car Park, which has ample space. It links directly to Victoria Shopping Centre, giving easy access to the heart of the town centre and the wonderful shops, bars, restaurants and entertainment venues Harrogate is home to.”
The BID’s 2022 Christmas campaign also includes sponsoring the North Pole Post Office, the Candy Cane Express road train, the Father Christmas Experience, the Christmas Shop Window Competition, and the Christmas lights.
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Knaresborough town centre gets free parking extension
Knaresborough town centre will continue to provide free parking until the end of the year, with the time limit doubled to one hour.
North Yorkshire County Councill will bring in the new rules on September 1 for Knaresborough Market Place, as well as Northallerton High Street.
The county council made the decision after it saw a petition from Northallerton BID which called for a review into the parking policies.
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County Councillor David Blades, member for Romanby and Broomfield, said:
“This decision goes a long way to show our support for retailers on the High Street and residents who requested an extension to free parking to allow for more time to do their shopping.”
County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Highways, added:
“The parking regime in Northallerton High Street has been a great success in encouraging a turnover of spaces and making it easier for drivers to find a parking space, resulting in less congestion. We must remember that parking charges in these towns are extremely low compared to other places.”