Maidenhead & Windsor

The Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough is once again giving Christmas shoppers an early Christmas present in the shape a gift-wrapped "package" of seasonal parking measures in the run up to the Big Day, including free parking on certain days.

The Christmas package – intended to attract shoppers into the town centres of Maidenhead and Windsor in the coming weeks – features free parking on many evenings and on Sundays as well as extra parking spaces created by extending the use of existing car parks at off-peak times.

The 'gift-box' of festive parking arrangements is designed to supplement the ongoing parking strategy being implemented in Windsor to improve parking for both residents and visitors.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead highways, said this week: "When we approved our parking strategy back in the summer we pledged to introduce measures to improve parking in Windsor – and I am delighted to report that we have already created more than 200 additional on-street parking spaces in the town and are continuing to focus on creating even more in 2009/10.

"With Christmas just around the corner there will be additional demands for parking in the town centres as more people do their Christmas shopping. We have some fantastic festive activities going on in our town centres in the coming weeks and we hope that by making parking easier and even free on many occasions we will attract people into the towns to enjoy everything the borough has to offer

"We have offered free parking to shoppers in the past in the run-up to Christmas but this year have added some extra incentives to encourage visitors to visit.

"While we are providing free parking to benefit motorists at this busy time of year, we are also keen to encourage people to use the borough's excellent bus and rail services, as well as encouraging cycling or walking as much as possible."

New measures for this year include:

* extending the Home Park park and ride service until 9pm (extended from 7pm)
* signposting King Edward Court car park for evening parking
* encouraging motorists to park in East Berkshire College overflow car park at weekends
* providing additional car parking at Windsor coach park during the winter when it is not so widely used by coaches
* encouraging local businesses to allow the public to use their car parks at weekends.

FREE PARKING will be available -

In Windsor (and Eton) in Alma Road, Alexandra gardens, Romney Lock, Victoria Street, Eton Court, Meadow Lane and King Edward V11 car parks :

* after 4pm every Thursday from 27 November
* every Sunday in December
* all day on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day
* £2 flat rate for cars in the coach park between 10am and 4pm from 15 to 24 December.

In Maidenhead in all council car parks (Hines Meadow, Nicholsons, Stafferton Way, Grove Road, West Street and Town Hall):

* every Sunday
* Thursdays November 27 and 4, 11 and 18 December from 4pm
* Saturday 29 November for Christmas lights switch-on from 4pm
* Christmas Eve from 4pm
* Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Shoppers' Special in the Nicholson's car park – up to four hours for only £2.

Cllr Rayner added: "Please shop locally and support your local businesses. There is a huge variety of shops in the Royal Borough, so there is no need to go further afield. Please help the environment by shopping locally wherever possible."

For further information contact Ben Smith, group manager, highway services – tel: 01628 796147.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead