Putting the park into Christmas sparkle

East Devon District Council is once again supporting local shops over Christmas with a range of special car park deals for motorists, including a chance to win a ‘Golden Ticket’ offering three months’ free parking for up to 24 lucky motorists.

This year’s main concession will again offer a special price of all-day parking for £2 (after 10am) in all East Devon’s car parks during December. The offer includes all inland car parks and those in resorts on the Jurassic Coast.

The 10am start time avoids car parks becoming blocked by commuters and (in the case of Honiton, Axminster and Exmouth) by rail commuters. In addition, anyone buying a £2 ticket after 10am will be able to use the same ticket to park in any other EDDC car park for the remainder of that day.

The council is also repeating its Golden Ticket prize draw, with one winning pay and display ticket available each day during the pre-Christmas offer – a total prize bank of 24 tickets.

Winning ticket holders who cash in their prize will get a free parking permit to use any car park across East Devon parking permit for the rest of the winter period (1 January to 31 March).

Councillor Iain Chubb, the council’s cabinet member for the environment portfolio, said: “The offers we introduced last year were popular with our customers and we are very pleased to be able to help local traders and the Chambers of Commerce. We are therefore delighted to be offering the same concessions for Christmas 2014.

“The Council understands and sympathises with the needs of our local business communities, especially now that they are competing not only with big cities but online retailers as well. We also want to reward customers who use our car parks and shop in our town centres in the run-up to Christmas.

“This scheme will definitely put the ‘park’ into Christmas sparkle!”.