Bangor set for free Christmas parking as councillors back festive boost

Bangor Christmas shoppers could get free Saturday parking

Bangor set for free Christmas parking as councillors back festive boost Christmas shoppers in Bangor could benefit from free Saturday parking this festive season after councillors backed a proposal to waive charges at the city’s nine council-owned car parks. The proposed change would run from the Christmas lights switch-on on 21 November through to 31 December, giving shoppers free parking every Saturday during the run-up to Christmas and over the festive period. The decision was backed by Ards and North Down Council’s Environment Committee following discussions with Bangor Chamber of Commerce, but it still needs approval from the full council later this month. Bangor parking could be free on Saturdays If approved, motorists using Bangor’s nine charged council car parks would not have to pay on Saturdays during the proposed period. The move is intended to support local traders during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, with Bangor Chamber of Commerce backing the proposal. Based on 2025 figures, the temporary free parking is expected to cost the council around £5,175 in lost parking income across the nine car parks. The proposal will not be extended across the whole borough, with traders in Newtownards and Holywood supporting a different approach to Christmas parking. Both towns raised concerns that free parking could encourage motorists to leave their vehicles in spaces for longer, reducing availability for other shoppers. Instead, the Chambers of Commerce in Newtownards and Holywood wanted better promotion of the existing £1 for five hours parking tariff. The different approaches have prompted debate among councillors over whether individual towns should be able to have their own parking arrangements. Mayor Craig Blaney supported the Bangor proposal, saying there was no “one-size-fits-all” approach across the borough and that different towns could benefit from different parking measures. Councillor Pete Wray also said local action groups were reflecting the different needs of individual areas, with Bangor’s group believing free Saturday parking could improve business and footfall. However, concerns were raised about the cost to ratepayers and whether having different parking policies across the borough could create an uneven system. Alderman Naomi Armstrong-Cotter acknowledged that local action groups had requested different approaches but warned the Bangor decision could set a precedent for varied parking arrangements elsewhere. Councillor Katherine Newman described the proposal as a goodwill gesture towards Bangor traders who had experienced difficulties, while Councillor Lauren Kendall said different arrangements could create an inequity across the borough. If the full council approves the proposal, Bangor Chamber of Commerce plans to survey local businesses in January to assess whether the free Saturday parking had an impact. For drivers, the decision could provide a useful Christmas parking incentive in Bangor, while the contrasting arrangements in Newtownards and Holywood show how local businesses and councils can take different approaches to managing parking during the festive shopping period.