Give shoppers a Christmas present by saving ‘Free After 3’ parking, Sunderland Council urged

Responding to Sunderland City Council’s reminder today (18 December) to shoppers to use ‘Free After 3’ parking this Christmas before it is axed in the new year, Leader of the Lib Dem opposition Councillor Paul Edgeworth said:

“It is beyond belief that Sunderland Council bosses have the audacity to wax lyrical about the benefits to Christmas shoppers and local businesses of using the popular ‘Free After 3’ parking scheme when they are axing the whole thing in the new year.

“If they expect us to believe that they are axing free parking after 3pm in the new year to help reduce emissions from cars then why are they encouraging drivers to go to the city centre this Christmas? They are either hypocrites or they are using the green agenda as a lazy excuse for their greedy decision to hike city centre parking charges in January.

“Rather than ploughing ahead with this disastrous decision to damage local businesses and drive people to out of town retail parks instead of supporting our city centre, ruling Labour councillors must give shoppers and business owners a last-minute Christmas present by making a U-turn and saving free after 3pm parking at St Mary’s and Sunniside car parks in 2024.”