Free parking to help support new Christmas local business initiative The Isle of Wight Council will provide free parking in its car parks for a day in the run up to Christmas as part of a new initiative aimed at boosting local businesses. On Saturday 7 December, the council will not charge to park in any of its car parks as part of an event called Small Business Saturday. The event, which also involves the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Visit Isle of Wight and the Federation of Small Businesses, is based on an American scheme which has seen sales in small businesses boosted by around $5.5 billion in the USA. The first Saturday in December is traditionally one of the busiest for shopping and Shirley Smart, the Isle of Wight Councils Cabinet member responsible for tourism and economy, said: We hope by waiving charges in our car parks for a day will encourage lots of people to visit towns and villages and buy local for Christmas. Businesses can also play a part to take advantage of the increase in shoppers. Perhaps they can offer special deals or vouchers, maybe free refreshments for example to try and entice the extra people through their doors. This is a wonderful opportunity to support local business ahead of Christmas and I am sure it will be welcomed by the public and business owners. Councillor Jonathan Gilbey is responsible for resources which includes parking. He added: This day demonstrates our commitment in supporting local businesses. The council is currently developing a new parking strategy and this event fits in with our new approach to the way we want to make council car parks more accessible and affordable to Island residents and visitors. Kevin Smith, chief executive officer of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, supports the event, saying: We are delighted to be working in conjunction with our partners for Small Business Saturday. This is a fantastic opportunity for all local businesses to promote themselves and contribute to the growth of the Islands economy. The Federation of Small Businesses is also getting behind the initiative and their vice-chairman Norman Arnold said: We are delighted to be actively supporting Small Business Saturday. Our members are going to seize this opportunity to show just what independent Island business can do. The free parking will apply to all council-run car parks across the Island. It will not apply to private-run car parks or on-street parking in town and village centres. Further details about Small Business Saturday will be announced over the coming weeks.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 09:24:30 +0000
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