Festive parking gift for shoppers

Car parks will be opened up to Christmas shoppers in Cannock all day long for a minimum fee in the run-up to the festive period, council bosses have decided.

Council chiefs had originally considered offering no discount at all for parking over Christmas for the first time in recent years in a bid to claw back cash.

But members of the council cabinet said allowing people to stay all day after paying the minimum charge would boost business in the town without costing the council large sums of money.

Natalie Chapman, manager at Cannock Shopping Centre said: "This is a positive step in the right direction. It is a still a little disappointing there is not going to be any waiving of the charge at all, but something is better than nothing."

"It will certainly help boost the Christmas trade."

Councillor Tony Williams, cabinet member for environment, said: "There will be a minimum one hour charge for all-day parking. People pay whatever the minimum charge is on the car park and they can stay all day."

The discount price scheme will apply on the last two Saturdays before Christmas, on December 13 and December 20. Parking at Cannock's multi-storey short-stay car park offers one hour parking for 80p.