Free parking will be available to users of Penrith car parks during town centre gas works.
Thanks to funding from Penrith Business Improvement District (BID), all Penrith's council-operated pay and display car parks will be free of charge after 3pm while the works are being carried out by Northern Gas Networks to reinforce the main gas supply on Middlegate and King Street.
The works, lasting up to eight weeks, require road closures in the town centre and Westmorland and Furness Council has held productive discussions with Dan Harding, Vice Chair of Penrith BID, about positive ways to support businesses impacted by the closures.
Penrith BID has agreed to cover the costs of making the parking free after 3pm in the council's Penrith pay and display car parks. The free parking offer comes into effect today (Friday, 12 January).
Car parks that will be part of the initiative are:
Drovers Lane
Sandgate
Bluebell Lane
Princes Street
Mansion House Front and Rear (weekends only)
A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said: "We are pleased to have worked with Penrith BID and agreed this initiative, with the BID’s funding providing the free parking in these car parks after 3pm during the period of the gas works.
"The gas works are not being undertaken by the council, however we are acutely aware of the impact these works have on local businesses and the community.
"We have also made some changes to how the local Season Parking Permits work, meaning they are now not car park specific for the duration of the works, and the free parking funding provided by Penrith BID will provide more support for businesses during this challenging time."
Dan Harding, Vice Chair of Penrith BID, said: "Penrith BID is a partnership between businesses and organisations, working together with local partner associations with the aim of improving trading conditions in the town.
"We recognise the gas works have a major impact on the footfall into Penrith town centre and want to support our businesses in any way we can. Working with Westmorland and Furness Council and covering the associated costs to make all council car parks free after 3pm throughout the town will hopefully encourage people to come into Penrith, despite the road closures, to do their shopping and support their local businesses.