Glasgow Chamber Of Commerce

Glasgow City Council has offered free parking in all of its multi-storey and surface car parks at weekends in the run-up to Christmas.

The move is part of the Glasgow Loves Christmas campaign and is aimed at boosting shopping trips to the city centre as retailers prepare for their busiest time of year.

Announcing the move, Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council said: "Glasgow has the best shopping in the UK outside the west end of London, so it's no surprise to find that people from all over Scotland, and further afield, like to visit our city.

"There are more than 1500 shops for people to choose from in Glasgow, and we have some of the UK's biggest names in the heart of the style mile, so Christmas shoppers will be spoilt for choice.

"Christmas in Glasgow this year promises to be the most exciting yet - with attractions and events spanning music, film, food and drink, dancing and family entertainment.

"We have around 5000 spaces in our car parks, so our free parking initiative is another great reason why Glasgow is the only place to be this Christmas."

Parking has been available in four multi-story car parks and around 20 surface car parks across the city in the three pre-Christmas weekends.

The offer includes the new 1225-space multi-storey car park at the Collegelands development on Duke Street.

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick, said: "The new 1225-space car park is a terrific boost and will help ease access to the city centre for shoppers by increasing available parking.

"In addition, free weekend parking during December will encourage shoppers into Glasgow city centre in what is such a crucial period for so many retailers.

"Our recent Glasgow city centre conference recognised just how important we believe the city centre is as an engine room of growth in the city.

"Anything that drives footfall to retailers of all sizes throughout the city centre can only help boost the region's economy."