Early Yuletide gift for motorists and traders across the Borders

Members of the council’s executive committee agreed to suspend the payments from the beginning of December in order to provide a boost to retailers by attracting customers into local shops over the festive period.

It was a decision welcomed by Councillor Mark Rowley, the council’s executive member for economic regeneration and finance, who believes traders need all the support they can get in the current climate.

He said: “I was delighted that the executive enthusiastically supported suspension of local parking charges over the festive period to help support our vital local shops, traders and hospitality businesses at such a critical time.

“We really hope it will boost local businesses and will encourage our residents to do as much of their shopping and spending locally. Our traders need all the support we can give and the executive hope this will send a clear message that shopping locally is a great way to support them and for residents to shop safely. We hope users will park responsibility and not overstay as for this to boost local businesses they need to see each space used by a succession of customers during the day.

“We also agreed to ask officers to review the parking landscape across the Borders so we can be sure that those assets are doing the most they can to support our local towns and traders as well as possible.”

The four month payment suspension will cost the council in the region of £80,000 in lost revenue.