Free Car Parking Offer To Boost Christmas Shopping

Free parking is being made available after 3pm at a city centre car park over the Christmas period. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The offer, being made available at the St David’s multi-storey car park, will kick-off on Thursday November 10 to coincide with the switch-on of the Christmas lights and the start of late-night shopping. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Swansea Council is behind the offer, which has been welcomed by city centre businesses as a further boost to the city’s centre’s night-time economy and vibrancy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “We’re determined to do all we can to encourage shoppers into the city centre during the most important time of the year for our shops, restaurants, pubs, market traders and other businesses. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Many shops will start opening a little later than usual from Thursday, so it makes sense to introduce this offer to coincide with their extended opening hours. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our offer also marks the day the Christmas countdown begins in Swansea with the switch-on of the Christmas lights and a spectacular event on Kingsway. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We hope the offer will complement everything we’re planning for the build-up to Christmas to generate a terrific festive atmosphere, while benefitting shoppers and businesses.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Russell Greenslade, Chief Executive of Swansea BID (Business Improvement District), said: “This is very much welcome news that further supports city centre businesses. The car parking offer will help attract after-school parent shoppers as we enter an important trading period, as well as all other shoppers and visitors too. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This offer gives yet another reason to visit the city centre and support city centre businesses, who are very grateful to Swansea Council for providing the offer.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event to mark the switch-on of the Christmas lights will last from 6pm to 7.30pm on Thursday evening. It’s been moved to a Thursday evening from its traditional slot on a Sunday at the request of city centre businesses. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The festive event will include giant, illuminated Christmas-themed balloons featuring acrobatic acts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There will also be a range of entertainment on a stage being run in partnership with Swansea BID, which will be set up adjacent to the city centre’s Christmas tree at the Kingsway end of Princess Way. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Waterfront Winterland will also be returning to Museum Park from the evening of November 18. The attraction will again feature a big wheel, Santa’s grotto, a funfair and two ice rinks – the main Admiral rink and a smaller rink for children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Other forthcoming city centre Christmas events include a Christmas Market on Oxford Street and a Santa’s Grotto attraction on Portland Street. Swansea Market will also be open on Sundays. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​