Free Sunday parking in Newton Abbot starts Sunday!

Sunday (October 30) marks the start of free Sunday parking in car parks in Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Dawlish. It will also see a special day of celebration in Newton Abbot to launch the scheme.

The three towns will be joining rural areas in offering free Sunday parking as part of a district council pilot scheme aimed at boosting local trade and cutting costs to motorists. The initiative is running until the end of March 2012, before long-term arrangements are decided following a review of parking around the district.  

The pilot scheme saw charges dropped on Sundays in all rural areas of the district from Sunday 7 August, and now towns and resorts are joining in for the winter months. Free Sunday parking will now apply in all 35 of Teignbridge Council's charged car parks which are open on a Sunday. A further 26 across the district offer free parking all of the time.

Newton Abbot town centre will be holding special celebrations to mark the launch of free Sunday parking. 

Not only will the scheme be extended to council car parks in the town, it will also be rolled out by Asda for its car park.  Similarly in Teignmouth the Co-op will also be offering free Sunday parking.

With many local shops now open on Sundays - including Austins Big 4 stores, Boots, WH Smith, New Look, Argos, Costa and many more – hopes are high for a big boost in local trade.

To celebrate the launch of free Sunday parking, the Town Centre Partnership and Teignbridge District Council have teamed up to offer Newton Abbot businesses a promotional opportunity in Courtenay Street. Businesses ranging from Argos in Queen Street, to Wollen Michelmore in Market Street will be coming out of their usual business premises and taking to the street for the day in specially erected market stalls.

Shoppers will be treated to tasters of pizza, local ale and cakes from the Pizza Cafe and delicious pasta from NuFood.  Nature's Bounty of Queen Street will also be offering vouchers entitling customers to discounts on services ranging from facials and mini makeovers to reflexology. Shoppers will also have the chance to learn about and take home vouchers for all sorts of other products and services.

Deborah Bond Dance School from King Street, Dance Works Devon from East Street and JJ's Music School from Queen Street have stalls on the day and will also be providing entertainment in Courtenay Street from 11am until 2pm. The fantastic 'Soul Commitment', will kick off proceedings on a day promising more music and dance, a market with a difference and great shopping offers.  

Sally Henley, Newton Abbot Town Development Manager said:

"Newton Abbot is open for business on Sundays and now that parking is free it is an even more compelling reason to come into town with the family rather than going further afield - using costly petrol and paying to park. Newton Abbot has such a good range of shops and services and we thought that an 'alternative market' would be a fun event to put on in the town centre. Those who haven't come into town recently will be pleasantly surprised at the number of shops which do open on Sundays now and it's a relaxing and convenient way to spend the day with the family.

"With everything going on around the town, it should prove to be an entertaining day out in Newton Abbot!"

Newton Abbot car parks to join the scheme from Sunday 30 October are:

•    Cricketfield Road

•    Halcyon Road

•    Cattle Market

•    Wolborough Way

•    Newfoundland Way

•    Venture Court

•    Osborne Street

Note: The multi-storey car park is closed on Sunday, but will open with free parking on Sunday 18 December.

Flickr.com image by Alan Cleaver.