COUNCIL-run car parks in Southend will be free for Christmas shoppers on certain days in December.

Southend Council says all of its car parks in the borough will offer free parking after 4pm on Thursdays as part of a late-night shopping initiative.

The offer will also be in place on Sundays in the lead up to Christmas.

The offer will start on Thursday, December 2 and runs up to and including Thursday 23 December.

The car parks offering free parking are:

  • Alexandra Street
  • Beecroft Upper
  • Belton Gardens North
  • Belton Gardens South
  • Ceylon Road
  • Civic Centre East
  • Civic Centre North
  • Clarence Road
  • Cliffs Pavilion
  • Eastern Esplanade (Camelia)
  • Elm Road (Leigh)
  • Essex Street
  • Fairheads Green
  • Gas Works
  • Gunners Park (both)
  • Hadleigh Road
  • Hamlet Court Road
  • Ilfracombe Avenue
  • Leigh Foundry
  • Leigh Marshes
  • London Road (North)
  • North Road
  • North Street
  • Pargat Drive
  • Pitmans Close
  • Rayleigh Road
  • Seaway
  • Shoebury Common (North)
  • Shoebury Common (South)
  • Shoebury East Beach
  • Shorefield Road
  • Short Street
  • Southchurch Park East
  • St Laurence Way
  • Sutherland Boulevard
  • Thorpe Bay Broadway
  • Thorpe Esplanade
  • Tylers Avenue
  • University Square
  • Uttons Avenue
  • Victoria Wharf
  • Warrior Square
  • York Road Market

Bosses say free parking will be on offer at all council-owned car parks following the success of a similar scheme last year.

Southend Council’s transport boss Ron Woodley said: “The Christmas period is important for local traders and that is why we are keen to once again offer our free festive parking on Thursday evenings and Sundays.

“This offer has proven very popular in recent years, and I am pleased to be able to offer this once again to all council owned car parks across the borough.

“I would like to take this opportunity to remind all residents and visitors to enjoy the borough safely whilst doing their festive shopping and activities.

“I hope this offer will attract both residents and visitors to the town for their Christmas shopping to help local retailers enjoy a bountiful Christmas after the challenging few years we have faced.”