Free parking bonus for town centre in small business drive

Snap up some fabulous festive gifts as Small Business Saturday is celebrated throughout Lurgan town centre surrounding towns and villages this Saturday, 5th December.
Lord Mayor of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, Cllr Darryn Causby with Joel Haffey from Trader D Butchers, Waringstown and Anne Wilson owner of the Post House Café, WaringstownLord Mayor of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, Cllr Darryn Causby with Joel Haffey from Trader D Butchers, Waringstown and Anne Wilson owner of the Post House Café, Waringstown
Lord Mayor of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, Cllr Darryn Causby with Joel Haffey from Trader D Butchers, Waringstown and Anne Wilson owner of the Post House Café, Waringstown

Kick start your Christmas season with the official launch of ‘Santa at Home’ and enjoy the first of three free car parking Saturday’s while you pick up your yuletide treats!

Small Business Saturday is a UK wide campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’. The day itself takes place on the first Saturday in December each year but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses throughout the festive period.

Lurgan and surrounding villages have a plethora of small businesses across retail, hospitality and service sectors and this Saturday is the perfect chance to show your support by doing your Christmas shopping, meeting friends for coffee or simply enjoying the festive ambience on the day.

In Lurgan, Santa will be taking up residence on the plaza. Now in its third year, little ones across the Borough can come and visit Santa for free in his traditional log cabin, complete with picket fence and roaring fire each pre Christmas Saturday from 10am-4pm.

Parents can take pictures on their smart phones or cameras and each child will receive special gift – a chocolate lolly, handcrafted by Lurgan chocolate company Cobden & Brown.

Additionally the local council has agreed to fund free parking in all 18 council owned, pay and display, off street car parks across the Borough on Saturdays leading up to Christmas, launching on Small Business Saturday. Free parking will be available on Saturday 5th, 12th and 19th December 2015.

Lord Mayor Darryn Causby said: “Small businesses are the lifeblood of our local city and town centres, adding social and commercial value to the places in which we work, live and enjoy. Statistics show that for every £1 spent with a local, independent business, between 50-70p circulates back into that local economy. It’s vital that we do all we can to drive home the ‘shop local’ message.

“Our support for this year’s Small Business Saturday campaign demonstrates the commitment which Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has to supporting small business owners throughout the Borough and with free car parking each Saturday on the run-up to Christmas, it’s the perfect chance to pick up some festive treats.”