Council to temporarily lift parking restrictions at Warwick car park over Christmas period
Parking restrictions are set to be lifted at some of the spaces in a car park in Warwick to help support the town’s Christmas Tree Festival and high street footfall this festive season.
Warwickshire County Council will be temporarily lifting weekday daytime parking restrictions at 100 spaces at the Cape Road Car Park.
The car park is currently used by Warwickshire County Council staff.
Previously, the spaces had been made available during the week for members of the public since the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, this was changed on March 31 this year – reverting it back to staff-only use Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
The change for the Christmas period to has been made to support the annual St Mary’s Christmas Tree Festival and to “encourage residents and visitors into Warwick town centre throughout the festive season”.
Free parking will be available on the following dates:
- Thursday November 27 to Friday December 5 (inclusive)
- December 22, 23 and 24.
The St Mary’s Christmas Tree Festival attracts around 7,000 people each year – and provides a boost to Warwick’s retail and hospitality sectors.
Helen Fitzpatrick, one of the organisers of the Warwick Christmas Tree Festival, said: “We are delighted and extremely grateful to Warwickshire County Council for their support.
“Free parking during the festival will make a significant difference to visitors and to the vitality of Warwick town centre at this important time of year.
"This initiative not only supports local businesses but also helps to sustain a much-loved Warwick tradition, ensuring that the St Mary’s Christmas Tree Festival continues to bring joy to the community each year.”
Kelly Scott, Warwick town centre manager, added: “This decision is fantastic news for Warwick.
"Free parking will not only support the Christmas Tree Festival, which is a much-loved community event, but will also help drive footfall into our wonderful independent shops, cafés, and businesses.
"We’re thrilled to see this level of partnership working to strengthen our town centre during the festive season.”
This year’s festival features 73 decorated trees sponsored by schools, charities, community groups and businesses. It will run until December 7.
For more information about the festival go to: https://www.stmaryschristmas.org.uk/