BCP Council will not provide free parking for shoppers this Christmas in town centres.

The four BIDs (Business Improvement District) in the conurbation have described BCP Council’s decision to axe Christmas parking concessions as ‘a hammer blow’ to thousands of businesses across the three towns.

In a joint statement, Bournemouth Town Centre BID, Bournemouth Coastal BID, Poole BID and Christchurch BID said the move was “deeply, deeply disappointing.”

Read more: No free Christmas parking in BCP area in 2022

The statement said: “It shows a lack of understanding of and support for our businesses as a whole and the pressures and issues they are facing.

“The Christmas trading period is often described in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors as vital to see them though the first quarter of the next year, when rents are due and consumer spending drops.

Bournemouth Echo:

“The council’s decision not to give Christmas concessions for the first time in more than a decade, whilst not taking away from the festive offerings our area has to offer, is a backward step and counterproductive.”

The statement added: “Whilst the sustainable transport that the council is promoting is welcome and necessary, it should not be at the expense of the essential and traditional parking offers to the public.

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“Many local councils in other towns and cities are continuing to offer parking concessions including our neighbours in the New Forest, Wimborne & Winchester because they recognise how critical this is.”

“The BIDs are urgently working together and with other partners, to see what additional support they can provide in light of BCP Council’s decision.”

There are fantastic events, shops, restaurants, pubs, bars and leisure outlets providing a brilliant experience across Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch all year round but especially for the for the festive season and we’ urge two things:

1) Come and partake in all of the Christmas events that the BIDs & others have helped to create support

2) BCP Council think again.

“The BIDs collectively put around £300,000 annually into the Christmas festivities and so this makes the BCP position even more disappointing.”