Just days after putting charges up, Perth and Kinross Council has announced a free parking scheme in the run-up to Christmas.
A fortnight ago, the authority controversially voted to raise fees by 10% from April in a move slammed by businesses.
On Monday, the mood was entirely different as the ”Free After Three” initiative was launched to attract shoppers for late-night shopping.
Each Thursday in December, parking charges are suspended after 3pm in the Mill Street East and West, Speygate, Scott Street and Canal Street multi-storey car parks.
The council said the scheme has been introduced to assist shoppers and provide a boost to businesses over the festive period.
Council leader Ian Miller explained: ”We recognise that the current financial climate has hit our local retailers hard. At such a vital time for businesses, we have been considering how we could help them by making it easier for their customers to come into the city centre.
”Having parking ‘Free After Three’ on Thursdays this month will, I hope, encourage shoppers to take full advantage of the fantastic variety of shops and businesses in Perth.”
John Bullough, chairman and managing director of McEwens of Perth, said: ”This is a fabulous initiative to encourage shoppers into our city centre. All the best stores will be open until 7pm on these Thursdays.”
Siobhan McConnell, St John’s Shopping Centre manager, said: ”We are sure the opportunity to park for free after three is something which will be positively received by both retailers and shoppers in the incredibly important and very busy run-up to Christmas.”
Dawn Cotton Fuge of toy shop, Theo and Tilly’s also welcomed the move but said it could lead to confusion.
She said: ”I support the idea but I can see people getting caught out and getting tickets because it doesn’t cover all car parks at all times.”