CHRISTMAS shoppers will be able to park free in Waverley car parks on the two Saturday afternoons before Christmas after the council performed a U-turn this week.
The arrangement had been in place since 1992 but was scrapped by WaverleyÕs ruling Conservatives in January to save £20,000 and help meet the councilÕs budget targets.
The decision, universally opposed by Liberal Democrats on the council, angered local Chambers of Commerce who had helped establish the parking concessions. Traders and shoppers also registered their anger.
But now the council has changed its mind and shoppers will be able to park free in all 35 Waverley car parks between 2 pm and 6 pm on Saturday, December 15 and Saturday, December 22.
A report by council officer Peter Maudsley reads: ÒAs a result of approaches from the Waverley business community and listening to individual business people it would be clearly advantageous to them to have a period of free car parking prior to Christmas.Ó
A joint statement from John Sandy, portfolio holder for environment and Pat Frost, portfolio holder for business liaison said: ÒWaverley is supporting businesses in the borough and responding to requests by providing free afternoon parking in the run-up to Christmas so that shoppers can use this opportunity to buy their presents locally in the wide variety of shops and markets on their doorstep.Ó
Meanwhile, in another move which will please the Farnham Chamber of Commerce, the councilÕs ruling executive has agreed to investigate the possibility of pay-on-exit parking - as part of the regeneration of East Street.
The Herald has previously reported how the pilot pay-on-exit scheme had won the backing of the chamber.
It feels the current pay-and-display system restricts shoppers because they have to return to their cars before a set time to pay for parking or to pay a top-up fee.
This is the first time a specific area of Farnham has been identified for the pilot scheme but at this stage it is unclear exactly where the car park would be.
It is also unclear how it would slot into the East Street regeneration, which is not scheduled to start for two years.
WaverleyÕs full council will decide on December 17.