FREE PARKING! County Council joins up with Regent Arcade in Cheltenham

Christmas shoppers in Cheltenham will be able to park for free* and do their bit for the local environment.

*From today (Monday November 24th) the town’s Regent Arcade will reimburse shoppers the cost of their park and ride tickets from Monday to Thursday if they spend £15 or more in the store.

Gloucestershire County Council, who run the Park and Ride at Arle Court, are hoping it will encourage more people to use the facility and in doing so reduce congestion and pollution in the town centre.

The agreement runs from Monday to Thursday each week and will continue until Christmas Eve.

Cllr Stan Waddington, Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet member for the environment said, “It is one of our long term aims to encourage people to use Park and Ride because it makes sense on a number of levels.

“It’s the quickest, easiest and most reliable way to get in and out of the centre of Cheltenham and helps reduce congestion and pollution levels. Now, thanks to one of the town’s main retailers it’s even more economic.

“When we asked people why they liked the Park and Ride they said it was because of the cost and reliability of the service, this should make it even better”.
Regent Arcade Manager John Forward said, “This is an idea we have been planning for some time not only to encourage more people to come to Cheltenham but also to reduce congestion and make the experience more enjoyable.

“Any visitor using the Park and Ride at Arle Court from Monday to Thursday can take their £2 ticket to customers services on the ground floor and get a full refund providing they spend a minimum of £15. It can be one purchase or several and of course, they can also go to other shops.

“We are pleased to be able to work with the county council in a way that benefits everyone - the town and the people who live, work and shop here”.

Gloucestershire County Council has already announced it will be running extra journeys between the Arle Court Park and Ride and the town centre.

The Christmas Park & Ride timetable launched with the Christmas Lights Festival on Saturday (22nd November) and now includes regular Sunday services.

For full details of extra journeys on the Park & Ride this Christmas see below...

• Also see : Gloucestershire Park & Ride

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