A free park and ride facility will operate from Newry train station into the city centre for five weeks leading up to Christmas. The service will be in addition to plans to open up the former North Street flats site for parking from November 26 to January 11. As such to two initiatives are expected to make hundreds of additional free parking spaces available for the traditional Christmas rush – enticing trade into the city by reducing inconvenience. Indeed Newry train station has the capacity for up to 300 cars whilst the North Street site will also be able to cater for 100s of motorists. The Park and Ride shuttle service from the train station will begin on November 19 and will end December 22 and run from 4.30pm each evening until 30mins after the shops close. Speaking to the Reporter Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive said the announcement was good news for local traders and shoppers. “We welcome any initiatives that the department are taking to promote shopping and access into the city centre,” she said. “We also look forward to the opening of North Street in the run up to the Christmas period and would like to see it opened up on a more regular basis .” Newry’s Christmas season effectively begins on November 22 with the annual Santa Run and the switch on of the city’s Christmas lights.
Newry Reporter
7th November 2012
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