We are reintroducing free parking across the district after 2pm for a month from 1st December.
In a scheme designed to boost trade, for the 16th year in a row it will be free to park in any District Council pay and display car park after 2pm throughout the festive season.
The free parking initiative was introduced by the District Council in 2008 to help local residents and businesses during the economic recession.
Again this year, to support the Council’s 2030 net zero carbon emissions target, the authority is also urging visitors and residents to support Dales businesses by making best use of public transport, car sharing, cycling and walking where possible.
Council Leader, Cllr Steve Flitter promoting the free Christmas parking initiative
EV charge points
Currently EV charge points are available at:
- Market Place, Wirksworth – one charger accommodating two spaces/vehicles at any one time
- Edgefold Road, Matlock – four chargers accommodating 8 spaces/vehicles
- Shawcroft car park, Ashbourne - four chargers accommodating 8 spaces/vehicles
- New Street, Bakewell - four chargers accommodating 8 spaces/vehicles
Cycle racks are also available in the District Council’s car parks in Bakewell’s Granby Road, Eyam, Over Haddon, Matlock Bath’s Station Yard, with two in Matlock at the Lido and Station car parks. Cycle lockers are available at Ashbourne Leisure Centre.
Free parking in December comes on top of residents’ parking concessions that allow local people to park free every day of the year up to 11am and after 4pm. Free parking permits were issued to all 34,000 households across the Derbyshire Dales back in March.
It means Dales residents have free parking for 21 hours each day over the festive period, which helps local people and local traders.
Public transport
A reminder too that it makes sense to make full use of public transport with the fare for thousands of single bus journeys in England capped at £2 until 31 December 2024. It could save passengers a third off the cost of a ticket on average.
The flat rate cap only applies to single journeys – one trip, on one bus – at any time of day. Return and multi-bus journeys and daily or weekly tickets continue to be charged at their usual price, so check if it may be cheaper to buy single tickets instead. The cap only applies to bus routes, not to coach fares.
Over 5,000 routes in England are currently capped under the scheme. See the full East Midlands list on the Gov.uk website.
