Christmas Car Parking in Sheffield
Free parking across the city will be available every weekend in December in the run up to Christmas as we move into Tier 3 restrictions. Sheffield City Council pay and display parking in the city will be free to use on both Saturdays and Sundays in December to support local businesses recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 restrictions this year.
In previous years, free parking has been provided in the city centre on Sundays in the weeks before Christmas, but the initiative has been expanded this year to include Saturdays and to also benefit shoppers and businesses in local communities.
The usual Christmas celebrations including the Christmas light switch on have been held virtually this year due to Covid-19, and the Council has encouraged people to visit the lights in their own time safely. The offer will include Council car parks and on-street parking and will apply on the 5-6 December, 12-13 December and 19-20 December 2020.
Those using the Council’s free parking spaces can simply park up and do not need to get a ticket from the parking machine.
Parks car parking, with the exception of Hawksley Avenue at Hillsborough, and privately run car parks, are not included in the offer. Shoppers are reminded to stick to social distancing guidelines, regularly clean their hands and wear face coverings whilst shopping to help protect themselves and others.
Councillor Bob Johnson, Cabinet Member for Transport and Sustainability at Sheffield City Council, said: “2020 has been a very difficult year for people in Sheffield and we know that a lot of businesses have struggled with severe restrictions on their trading. As our non-essential retail sector reopens, we want to show our support and give them a much-needed boost in the run up to Christmas. We have therefore extended our free parking offer to include Saturdays as well as Sundays, as well as offered it outside of the city centre for the first time ever. “As we come into the festive season, we want to make it as easy as possible for people to really support their high street and buy local wherever they can. Sheffield’s businesses have shown great resilience in how they have adapted to the challenges of this year and we hope that this final push will make for a brighter 2021.”
Diane Jarvis, Sheffield BID Manager: “This is a very welcome decision by the local authority and a material demonstration of support to our local business community. The recent lockdown has been very difficult so it’s crucial we now work together to help the local high street get the most out of the festive season by enhancing the shopper experience as much as we can.
"All our businesses are working hard to ensure their customers have a safe and pleasant experience as the city once again starts to reopen. Free parking is an added incentive to boost much needed footfall as we welcome people back safely to support our local shops and services.”
Sheffield’s Christmas ‘Make Yourself at Home’ campaign also kicks off this week, with lots of ideas for how to support Sheffield businesses this festive season.
See more information on the Welcome to Sheffield website here: www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/makeyourselfathome and look out for Visit Sheffield’s activity on social media. @VisitSheffield #SheffieldMakes.
More information on parking in Sheffield can be found at: www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/parking
