Free parking helps Navan retailers as shopping reaches climax
The provision of some 1,500 free car parking spaces by Navan Town Council from 11am on each day until this Friday, Christmas Eve, is being highlighted by local councillors Francis Deane, Anton McCabe and Mayor Phil Brennan, who are encouraging people to shop local this Christmas. The free parking spaces are available from 11am each day from 18th December to 24th December. Cllr Deane said: “I would like to highlight the importance of shopping local during this holiday season. The recent Arctic conditions have restricted people's mobility and I am advising people to stay safe, stay local and shop local.†Cllr Deane said that, having spoken to retailers on Sunday, consumers are more value-driven this Christmas season and said he has noticed many businesses offering great discounts to attract customers in their doors. “Many businesses traditionally take in 30-35 per cent of an annual turnover in the month of December. The first two weeks of this December have seen a dramatic fall-off in trade in many cases for Navan retailers but there has been positive feedback regarding business done on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th December,†said Cllr Deane. He added that, last weekend, free parking in the town was a good boost in attracting shoppers to Navan. “People could relax, browse and extend the stay in town. Navan has experienced a lot of shop closures in recent months amongst the small independent retailing community. Cross-border shopping was a huge issue last year but consumers appear to have become more loyal and are conscious of supporting their local economy,†he said. Cllr McCabe is appealing to employees of the town to continue using the long-term car parks in an effort to ensure that the town parking spaces are freed up for shoppers. Cllr Brennan extended a warm welcome to all shoppers who support Navan this Christmas and he, along with Cllrs McCabe and Deane, extended good wishes to the people of Navan and its surrounding areas a peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.