From Monday 22 July, visitors to Oxted will be able to enjoy two hours of free parking in Ellice Road car park between 8am and 5pm on weekdays. Parking is free outside those hours and all day at the weekend and on bank holidays.
In addition, free parking is available at the Council Offices, Oxted, after 6pm on weekdays and all day at weekends.
This is part of a drive to make visiting Oxted easier for shoppers, so they can take advantage of all the great things the town has to offer. It will also support local businesses during the construction of the apartments at the former gasholder site.
To take the pressure off Ellice Road, while the gasholder site is being redeveloped, the Council is looking at other options to provide more parking across the town, as there will be a high number of construction workers as work progresses.
Some business permit holders have already relocated to the Council Offices car park to free up spaces at Ellice Road.
The Council is working with the Love Oxted Business Improvement District (BID) to encourage residents to support local shops. The Oxted Open for Business campaign promotes what the town has to offer shoppers, visitors and other businesses.
The two hours will be in place until summer 2021, when the development is due to be finished.
Councillor Tony Elias, Leader of the Council and Chair of Strategy and Resources, said: “Oxted has a lot to offer and we want to make sure it stays that way. We are doing everything we can to minimise the impact of the development at the former gasholder site and ensure local businesses continue to thrive while the work takes place.”