Mendip shoppers, visitors and businesses are set to benefit from free parking in the run up to Christmas and on New Year's Day.

Free car parking will be available in all its pay and display car parks during the holiday period. And there's a fee-free day planned to support Small Business Saturday on 7 December too, (at selected car parks).

Mendip will suspend all parking charges from Wednesday 18 December until Tuesday 24 December.

New Year revellers can also raise a glass in celebration, as the council is providing free parking all-day on Wednesday 1 January. This is to support drivers who park vehicles in car parks on New Year's Eve, to use alternative and safe methods of transport to get home.

And anyone visiting the area for Small Business Saturday, on 7 December, will find Christmas has come early, charges will be suspended across the following car parks: Cranhill Road in Street, St John's car park in Glastonbury, Union Street in Wells, Great Ostry in Shepton Mallet and the Cattle Market in Frome.

Cllr Nick Cottle, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services, said: "Mendip District Council is delighted to be offering free festive parking to help local business, residents and visitors.

"We hope people will take advantage of the gesture and flock to Mendip across the season to support our traders this year, as they have done so generously in the past."

Chairman of Wells Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Robert Powell, said: "Wells Chamber of Commerce very much welcomes the decision of Mendip District Council to allow free parking in the Mendip towns on Small Business Saturday, the week before Christmas and on New Year's Day.

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"Any such moves all help to keep the vitality of our local town centres in what is a challenging retail environment."

For more information on Mendip car parks please visit our website www.mendip.gov.uk or contact Customer Services on 0300 303 8588.