Free weekend Glasgow city centre parking announced in run-up to Christmas to help retailers

Free parking will be available to shoppers in Glasgow city centre during the run-up to Christmas.

Spaces in off-street car parks run by Glasgow City Council will be free every weekend in December, in a bid to boost retailers and hospitality.

Council leader Ricky Bell, SNP, is urging other car park operators to match the offer — and pledged a price freeze on the council’s city centre car parks in the new year too.

Speaking ahead of the annual State of the City Economy Conference today (Friday), Cllr Bell admitted the cost of parking in the city centre is now too high.

“In a cost of living crisis, the cost of getting around town can be a barrier to folk accessing the town for shopping or a night out,” he said.

“The introduction of the bus fare cap and the removal of peak fares on trains have helped — but there is more I want to do about affordability.

“We need to put our hands up when we’ve not got something quite right — and I think we’ve pitched the price of parking in the city centre too high.

“I’m committed to not raising parking costs in the city centre for the next couple of years — but I want to do more.”

During his keynote speech at the conference, Cllr Bell is expected to tell attendees that he has told officials to make spaces in city centre council-run off-street car parks free on Saturdays and Sundays during December.

These car parks include Cadogan Square, Cambridge Street, Duke Street, Charing Cross and Concert Square.

The council leader said: “The cost of living is one of the biggest challenges facing families in Glasgow — and people are really going to feel that at Christmas.

“Our Christmas marketing campaign is ‘Get You In Town’. If we can cut a few pounds off the cost of weekend shopping trips, or getting together with friends and family, that’s money that is more likely to be spent in stores, or bars and restaurants.

“It’s better for shoppers and families and it’s better for our businesses.”