Two hours' free parking in Holt

Date published: 24th June 2020

North Norfolk District Council can confirm that following consultation with Holt Town Council and the Love Holt (Chamber of Trade), it is offering two hours’ free parking at two car parks in Holt. This is a bid to help support the town’s high street shops and businesses to recover both from the effects of COVID-19 and the fire which destroyed Budgens supermarket over the weekend.

Parking at the council-owned Albert Street and Station Yard Car Parks will be free for the first two hours, with immediate effect through until the end of July.

The move is consistent with similar parking fee changes made last year in Sheringham as a result of works on a sinkhole in the town and in North Walsham earlier this year when it was impacted by the Cadent gas main replacement works.

The Leader of North Norfolk District Council commented: “The town of Holt has a relatively small residential population and the local high street economy is therefore reliant on visitors, second home owners and parents of pupils attending Greshams to supplement trading.

“The lockdown has therefore had a marked impact as none of these groups of people have been present to shop locally in Holt. Added to this, the loss of the town’s only supermarket to fire last weekend underlines even more the need to support the local business community and introduce two hours’ free parking at our car parks, to help attract more shoppers back to the town.

“While encouraging people to support the local shops in Holt, we would of course remind all visitors to shop safely and adhere to all the relevant social distancing regulations, local signage and guidance from store staff. Visitors will need to ensure they follow the guidelines displayed in the carparks to qualify for the free parking.”