Southampton City Council Announces Free District Centre Parking Ahead of Christmas
Southampton City Council has announced that it will offer free parking in district centre car parks on selected December weekends to help support residents, families, and local businesses during the busy run-up to Christmas.
Parking will be free from 10am on Saturday 13 December, Sunday 14 December, Saturday 20 December, and Sunday 21 December. Motorists will still need to pay for parking between 8am and 10am, a measure the council says is designed “to assist with keeping spaces available for customers later in the day.” All usual rules—such as parking within marked bays and the requirement to display a Blue Badge in disabled bays—will continue to apply.
The initiative will cover car parks across Southampton’s district centres, including:
Bitterne
• Angel Crescent
• Commercial Street
• Lances Hill
• Peartree Gardens
• West End Road
• Whites Road
Portswood
• Westridge Road
Shirley
• Bright Glade
• Cannon Street
• Howard’s Grove
• Marlborough Road North
• Marlborough Road South
Woolston
• Colonnade
• Oakbank Road
• Portsmouth Road
• Woodley Road North
• Woodley Road South
The council says the move complements its other low-cost travel options, including the £1 evening bus fare and the £3 weekend Park & Ride service from Adanac Park on the city’s western side.
“In the run up to Small Business Saturday next week, it is also the perfect time to highlight the many wonderful independent local businesses that you can find in Bitterne, Portswood, Shirley and Woolston,” the council said in its announcement, emphasising the importance of supporting local traders during the festive season.
Councillor Christie Lambert, Cabinet Member for Transport, said she was pleased to confirm the seasonal parking concession. “I am delighted to be able to announce the free parking in our district centre car parks over this Christmas period, making it one less thing for local people to have to consider,” she said.
She added that national and local campaigns were helping promote small businesses across the city. “The national Small Business Saturday and our own Southampton Loves Local campaigns aim to raise awareness of the great things that local small and independent businesses offer to their customers and communities and I would encourage everyone to explore their local shops for unique gifts and party supplies this Christmas.”