Additional free parking in Central City to attract shoppers
18 November 2010
The Christchurch City Council is increasing free parking in the central city in a move to attract shoppers into the area
over the Christmas-New Year holiday period.
The Council today voted to allow two hours’ free parking in its parking buildings and the Tuam Street car park from next
Monday through to Sunday 30 January 2011.
A free hour’s parking, on top of the time already purchased, will also be provided at central city on-street “pay and
display” meters from Monday until 31 December, 2010.
To activate the extra hour’s free parking motorists need to put a coin of any size into the meter. When the parking
meter ticket is issued, it will show an extra hour in addition to the time paid for. The one hour meters are extended to
two hours and the two hour meters to three hours.
The free parking offer will cost the Council an estimated loss in revenue of around $1.2 million. However all
councillors at today’s meeting said they recognised the need for Council support for central city retailers to encourage
shoppers into their area at what is traditionally the busiest time of the year.
Today’s decision followed a deputation to the Council meeting by Central City Business Association Manager Paul Lonsdale
who told Council of the downturn in the number of people coming into the central city since the 4 September earthquake.
Retailers, who are struggling financially, had identified that free parking would be an incentive for shoppers.
The staff report proposed the additional free parking for both on and off street parking in the central city to run
until the end of December this year. However after considering the Association’s request the Council voted to extend the
offer for its parking facilities for an additional month. The Council’s off-street parking facilities where the two
hours free parking will apply are:
• Lichfield Street car park
• Tuam Street car park
• Manchester Street car park
• Oxford Terrace car park
• Art Gallery car park
• Kilmore Street car park
• Hospital car park
• Farmers car park
• The Crossing car park
Before today’s decision, an hour’s free parking was already operating at the Lichfield Street, Manchester Street,
Farmers and The Crossing Parking facilities, with free parking all day in the weekend at the Manchester and Tuam Street
parking facilities.
ENDS