WITH the end of the lockdown in sight and Cornwall moving into Tier One, Falmouth Christmas shoppers will be able to enjoy free car parking every Saturday in December thanks to the town team.

All Cornwall Council managed car parks will be made free on Saturdays through December, enabling residents and visitors alike to enjoy all that the town has to offer - high quality independent shops, national retail businesses, award-winning food and drink outlets and visitor attractions. It does not apply to non-council owned car parks

Saturdays will be free for December 5, 12, 19 and 26. The relevant car parks are The Moor, The Quarry, Church Street Car Park, New Street, The Dell, Grove Place and Gyllyngvase. From midnight to midnight, there will be no need to purchase a ticket.

The free car parking initiative is one of a series of supportive measures that Falmouth Town Team - Falmouth BID and Falmouth Town Council working in partnership - have secured to assist the business and wider community during these challenging times. A tremendous amount of work has been going on behind the scenes to ensure that Falmouth is a safe and welcoming place for all to visit.

The roll-out of Falmouth’s Positive Engagement Plan by the team contains a series of measures – public realm safety assets, business support, lobbying, marketing and more, the template of which has been viewed as best practice and utilised by numerous other areas across Cornwall.

People visiting the town will find a range of COVID-19 signage markers, posters and information boards, all bespoke and in line with the Falmouth brand. There are also 15 Falmouth-branded sanitiser station points across the town centre.

Richard Wilcox, Falmouth BID Manager said: “There has been a huge amount of proactive work undertaken in what has been a real partner-led effort over the past six months. Coming together through such a challenging time has been a real strength and with Cornwall being placed in Tier 1 following November’s lockdown, we will continue to provide extensive support for our business and wider community.

"Further safety planning, the provision of free car parking and regional marketing are just some of the ways that support continues.”

In line with the safety planning highlighted above and with lockdown lifting on Wednesday, December 2, there will also be the reinstatement of a pedestrian priority/road closure for Market Street, Church Street and Arwenack Street. This will be managed daily between

11am and 4pm (access to Church Street Car Park will be available before 11am and you can leave after this time). The closures will run until Sunday, January 3 (inclusive). Further information can be found at www.falmouth.co.uk.