A Dundee councillor is calling for two fee-free Saturdays before Christmas in city centre car parks run by the local authority.
West End councillor Fraser Macpherson said the move would “boost the attractiveness” of the city to the wider region as a destination for Christmas shopping.
Mr Macpherson said the council should look for additional ways to promote the city’s district shopping centres such as Perth Road, Broughty Ferry, Blackness Road, Nethergate/South Tay Street/West Port and Lochee in the run-up to Christmas.
His plea has fallen on deaf ears, however.
The council’s head of transportation responded to the idea, saying: “This has been looked at in recent years and the fee for parking is not seen as the main attractor or disincentive, more so the availability of modern, safe and accessible facilities and the destination’s attractiveness ie Dundee city centre is a chosen destination for many people.”
Even so, Mr Macpherson maintained: “I think the council should be considering some limited free city centre parking in the run-up to Christmas. Dundee is already an attractive place for out-of- town shoppers to do their Christmas shopping and some limited free parking would further help.
“Additionally, the council should be doing more to help promote the great small businesses in district shopping centres like the West End, Broughty Ferry and Lochee.”