Published: October 7, 2011
Town Council backs call for Christmas parking charges to be waived

Town councillors have this week urged Sedgemoor District Council to scrap parking charges across Burnham and Highbridge during the run-up to Christmas in order to encourage more shoppers to visit the two towns and support local traders.

Cllr Chris Williams, pictured, has proposed the district council waive all parking charges between December 17th and Christmas Eve.

"Given the current financial climate, our local traders need as much help as possible this Christmas," he explained to Burnham-On-Sea.com.

"Free parking would provide a small incentive to shoppers to buy in Burnham and Highbridge and also help them reduce their petrol bills by avoiding their need to drive out of the area to shopping malls."

Burnham-On-Sea Chamber of Trade's Chairman, Rhonda Mills, welcomed the proposal.

"We certainly back the idea and hope that Sedgemoor agrees. Any initiatives like this that help our traders and encourage people to do their shopping locally are to be welcomed," she said.

The proposal was formally put forward during this week's Town Council meeting where it was unanimously backed. A formal request has been submitted to Sedgemoor and is due to be considered later this month.

Sedgemoor used to provide free parking in the run-up to Christmas in the two towns, but this stopped after the 2007 parking offer.

RELATED LINKS:

Burnham Chamber of Trade official website