Calls to shop local as free parking for Christmas offered

Westmeath County Council will provide free off-street parking to shoppers in the lead-up to Christmas again this year in council car parks, and two extra free days in November have been agreed with the Chamber of Commerce.

The proposed days in December include Saturday 7, Friday 13, Saturday 14, Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Monday 23. The two extra days agreed with the Chamber are Friday, November 22, and Friday, November 29.

“I think that’s a really, really strong message to send out,” said the cathaoirleach of Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District, Cllr Ken Glynn (FF), pointing out that the free parking will be especially welcome as the district gears up for WinterFest 2024.

“The chamber of commerce and the council have been working hard on WinterFest and the return of the ice-skating rink. It’s very positive for the town.”

The return of the ice rink to Mullingar will bring an added benefit to employers and retail in the town as WinterFest attendees will likely spend more. A full schedule of events is to be released in the coming weeks.

“I think it’s a huge add-on to the promotion of Mullingar and especially coming into the winter months and free parking is meant to encourage people to shop locally, come in and support our local retailers now more than ever,” said Cllr Emily Wallace (FG) in support of the initiative.

“Retailers and our local businesses are under severe pressure and it’s up to us to spend as much as we can locally, wherever we can and that is very important, especially as we see a number of local outlets closing in the next couple of weeks.

“We have to bear in mind that shopping online is great. But these are our local businesses that will give TY work experience, that will give sponsorship to local GAA clubs, that will give you discounts, and you will be able to go in and get an add-on that you will not get in bigger department stores or in bigger cities.”

Cllr Aoife Davitt (FF) was also quick to welcome back the WinterFest and to encourage shoppers to support local businesses this Christmas.

“I know as a teacher, we were so lucky to have the ice-skating here and we could bring down groups as a treat for Christmas and that the availability of it right on our doorstep was great,” she said.

“And the length of time from November 22 to January 5 is absolutely amazing. When WinterFest was on, the people that we met from all across the country had come to Mullingar for the simple reason that there was that draw.

“I’m delighted to see it back. It’s lovely to see the post-Covid links starting to join back again and it’s just a fantastic display for people to be able to see what Mullingar is actually like.”Cllr Bill Collentine (FF) also welcomed the return of the ice rink, stating that it will “bring a lot of footfall and a lot of money” to the town, while the Cllr Denis Leonard (Labour) requested extra advertising for the free parking.

“Sometimes you can have free days for parking coming up to Christmas and, for some reason, with all the media we have between the newspaper media and social media and everything else, people sometimes don’t know,” said Cllr Leonard.

“Signage going up in advance can be a great thing, you know, the old-fashioned way of actually advertising some of the sign boards coming into town. People tend to look at them. I’m always looking at them coming in by the Mullingar Park.

“Is it possible to look at that form of advertising as well because it will attract more and more people. It is a major shopping town in the district and the last thing we want is people heading up to Dublin.

“I think the fact that the ice rink that many people would travel to the Dublin area for is available here in this town is a huge plus because it’s not just about shopping local, it’s also about recreate local, stay local and have a nice, Westmeath Christmas.”

In conclusion, Cllr Glynn praised both Westmeath County Council and the Chamber of Commerce on the “fantastic achievement” of getting WinterFest and the ice rink back to the town.

Agreeing with Cllr Leonard, he noted that “digital signage is normally erected around the town” to direct shoppers to free car parking.

“As somebody that’s been in retail for 30-something years, I can only tell you first-hand that retail needs local people, both urban and rural, to come in as they do and to support our town and our shops,” he said.

“That is the lifeblood of any community in any town, so I think it’s hugely important. It’s a strong message to send out and I think the decision today, with those days that we have allocated for the free parking, sends out a really strong message that Mullingar will be very much open for business, and very much ready for the rush.”

He also noted that one of the allocated days, November 29, is “one of the busiest days in the retail year” as it’s Black Friday. So, again, a strong message for that event, and a very positive message,” he said.