Charnwood Borough Council is offering the free parking at its Granby Street and Beehive Lane car parks between 2 November 2026 and 3 January 2027. The scheme is intended to encourage more people to visit the town centre during the busy festive period, thereby supporting retailers, the hospitality sector, market traders, and other local businesses.
Cllr Jewel Miah, Leader of the Council, stated: “Our prudent management of the Council’s finances has allowed us to bring forward this offer to help residents at a time when household budgets are under pressure, while also supporting town centre businesses.”
Cllr Liz Blackshaw, the Council’s Lead Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, added: “We know the weeks leading up to Christmas are incredibly important for Loughborough town centre businesses and we hope this offer will encourage more people to visit. We are committed to supporting local businesses and helping our local economy thrive.”
Cllr Jennifer Tillotson, the Council’s Lead Member for Economic Development, Regeneration and Town Centres, highlighted the town's diverse business mix. She noted: “This year alone we are investing almost £1 million in our town centre car parks and delivering a programme of events which attracts thousands of visitors. That's in addition to operating the Town Hall, museum and markets, which all help bring people into the town centre.”
The free parking offer will be available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, throughout the promotional period. Any stay exceeding two hours will incur the full parking charge for the entire duration of the visit. The Council stated that the offer is designed to allow as many people as possible to take advantage of it.
In addition to the parking initiative, the town centre will host various events leading up to Christmas, including Loughborough Fair, the Christmas Lights Switch-on, and Christmas markets. Further information can be found at www.discovercharnwood.co.uk.
