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People urged to support local traders in the Vale and South Oxfordshire as councils confirm free parking days in the run up to Christmas

People in the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire can park for free on specific days this December and are being urged to use this opportunity to support their local shops and cafes in the run up to Christmas.

Each year Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Councils provide free parking days during December to help encourage people to shop locally for their Christmas presents.  

With many shops affected by the Covid-19 restrictions, this year it is particularly important that people support local traders where they can, while maintaining social distancing and face covering requirements.  Users will not have to display a ticket on these free days.

Motorists can park in district council car parks without paying for or displaying a ticket on the following days in December: 

  • Abingdon – Saturdays (5, 12, 19 December) 
  • Faringdon – Saturdays (5, 12, 19 December) 
  • Wantage – Saturdays (5, 12, 19 December) 
  • Didcot – Mondays (7, 14, 21 December) 
  • Goring – Saturdays (5, 12, 19 December) 
  • Henley – Tuesdays (8, 15, 22 December) 
  • Thame – Saturdays (5, 12, 19 December) 
  • Wallingford -Thursdays (10, 17, 24 December) 

Motorists can also continue to park for free each day outside of the charging period and during the standard free periods offered by both councils, but must they display a ticket during this time.

Councillor Andrew Crawford, Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Assets at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “Local traders are a vital part of our community, providing high quality, important goods, services and jobs for residents and visitors, as well as providing a friendly face to talk to for many people. 

“The Coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on across our local economy and so I really hope that people will take advantage of the free parking days and free periods offered each day to support our local businesses in the run up to Christmas.” 

Cllr David Rouane, Cabinet Member for Housing and Environment at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We provide free parking as a way of encouraging people to shop locally for their Christmas presents.  This year it seems particularly important for people to do that in order to help independent traders who have been badly hit by the recent restrictions. 

“Many of those who have been affected will be your friends and neighbours, as well as individuals who are familiar and friendly faces when visiting our town centres.  As a community we really have a shared responsibility to look after each other and help to ensure that their businesses survive through this current period and then thrive once again after the pandemic is over.”

For more information about parking and district council car parks please visit – whitehorsedc.gov.uk/parking / southoxon.gov.uk/parking

The above arrangements are subject to any change in national or local Covid-19 restrictions.