THE council is giving Ealing its very own Christmas present next month with free car parking during every weekend in December.
Sixteen car parks across the borough will be free to use as the council tries to encourage people to stay in the area and shop, eat and drink locally in the run-up to Christmas.
Council leader Julian Bell said the initiative will tie in with the Shop Local campaign, which is being extended from Ealing to West Ealing.
Mr Bell said: “I’m hoping this will make a significant impact. When we offered free weekend parking in the weeks following the summer riots, businesses and traders in Ealing said it made a big difference.
“People value their town centres but I think we need to do more to encourage them to spend their hard-earned cash. This is one way we can do that and hopefully it will make a positive difference.”
Matthew Sims, general manager of Ealing Chamber of Commerce, said: “Car parking is a huge issue. The number of spaces available to people will always affect how and where people shop.
“This is a fantastic idea because it doesn’t just work for the benefit of residents in Ealing but it also invites people from outside the area to come and shop here, thereby bringing in added footfall.
“The effect of all this will be that it will restore confidence in Ealing as a place to shop.”
Also included in the deal with be the new temporary car park in Southall, which will be located in Hambrough Road with space for 49 cars and four disabled bays.
It will remain in use for at least six months, while Ealing Council looks at where to install the long-awaited permanent car park, and will be open daily from 8am to 6pm.
