‘Christmas is a hugely important time for our town centres and local businesses’ - Cllr Chris McGiffen NNC

Christmas shoppers heading to Kettering and Corby town centres this December will be able to park for free on Saturdays.

This is in stark contrast with Northampton where charges will remain in place with West Northants Council (WNC) saying free parking is “not a sustainable solution” with Reform leader Mark Arnull launching an extraordinary attack on the Chron for its Park the Charges campaign.

As with previous years, North Northamptonshire Council will be offering free parking in council-owned car parks in Kettering and Corby town centres on Saturdays throughout December.

The Wadcroft car park in Kettering | Northants Telegraph

placeholder image — The Wadcroft car park in Kettering | Northants Telegraph

Free parking will be available in all council-owned pay and display car parks in Kettering and Corby town centres on the following dates:

Saturday 5 December
Saturday 12 December
Saturday 19 December

This applies to all council pay and display car parks in Kettering and Corby town centres, excluding Corby railway station car park.

Cllr Chris McGiffen, North Northamptonshire Council's Executive Member for Highways, Waste and Environment, said: "Christmas is a hugely important time for our town centres and local businesses, and we are pleased to once again offer free Saturday parking in Kettering and Corby throughout December.

"We know many residents enjoy shopping locally and supporting businesses on their doorstep in the run up to Christmas. This scheme helps make those visits a little easier while encouraging people to spend time in our town centres during the festive season.

"Separately, we're currently consulting on a draft parking strategy for North Northamptonshire, and I would encourage everyone to take part. While that consultation is ongoing, we're pleased to be able to offer free Saturday parking in Kettering and Corby again this Christmas."

Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of the Council, said: “With more people shopping online, town centre businesses are fighting for customers this festive period more than ever. With this in mind, we are keen to support by offering free parking on Saturdays in the lead up to Christmas so that families can shop together for presents and everything that makes this time of year so special.”

The Chron launched its Park the Charges campaign on November 5, calling for free parking at all council-owned multi-storey and surface car parks, as well as the premium on-street parking, on Saturdays and Sundays from November 21 until December 20 – as well as Christmas Eve for last minute shoppers.

The Northampton Town Centre BID has expressed it is “supportive” of any measures to make the area “more attractive and accessible over the Christmas period”, while business owners have said the town centre will simply die if improvements are not made.

Cllr Arnull, Reform leader at WNC slammed the Chron’s campaign, calling it impartial ‘lobbying’.

In response, the Chron’s campaigning senior reporter Katie Wheatley said: “In the WNC leader’s column, he made the statement that “responsible local government cannot be reduced to whichever giveaway makes the easiest headline or generates the most social media clicks” – and this is not only an insult to us, but the town centre businesses we give a platform to. “

If you would like to be part of the Chronicle & Echo’s campaign for free parking in Northampton town centre this Christmas, email [email protected].