Noel French, president of Trim Chamber of Commerce; Brian Murphy, Trim town clerk, and Cllr James O'Shea, cathaoirleach of Trim Town Council, launching the free Christmas parking scheme last week.

Town centre car parks free for three weeks in run up to Christmas

Trim Town Council has announced that all town centre car parks - Castle Street, Emmet Street, Haggard Street and the car park at the swimming pool - will be free for the three weeks before Christmas, from Monday 5th December. Cathaoirleach of Trim Town Council, Cllr James O'Shea, has welcomed the news, which is aimed at facilitating Christmas shopping in the town. The parking concession is subject to the normal two-hour limit and begins each day at 10.30am. Parking fees on the streets will remain as normal as this will prevent congestion. President of the Chamber of Commerce, Noel French, welcomed the move and said "as much free parking as possible should be provided". He also welcomed that the free period was being extended to three weeks this year and urged people to shop in their local shops and purchase local produce where possible. Town clerk Brian Murphy remarked that this was a new move for 2011 and "extends the availability of free parking to shoppers in the weeks leading up to Christmas". He said he also "hopes that people would stay and shop local".