VISITORS to Barrow town centre for the big Christmas lights switch-on this month will be charged just £1.30 to park their cars, after a concession was agreed.

Barrow Business Improvement District has agreed the reduction with Barrow Borough Council for Saturday November 19, the day of the town's festive lights display.

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The council will only be charging £1.30 to park in council-owned car parks from noon onwards. It will allow anyone coming to Barrow for the lights switch-on to arrive early and only pay £1.30 to park for the rest of the day.

Simon Craig, chairman of Barrow BID, said: "The BID always wanted to be involved with an event that was more inclusive of the town centre as a whole and so, having heard that the group of local volunteers had picked up the baton, we met with Barrow Borough Council executive director, Phil Huck.

"The result was that we came out of the meeting with a parking concession for the day of the event.

"This should encourage shoppers to head into town earlier in the day before drifting over to the lights switch-on event.

"We hope that this is the first of a number of parking concessions that will result from our meetings with the council and we really appreciate their support for the BID.

"I would also like to congratulate Denis and Beth Horan and the group of volunteers working to put the Christmas lights event on and we hope that the BID's Christmas strategy group can work in partnership with them in future years and explore avenues in which the BID can support and add value to the event."

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Darren McSweeney, one of the volunteers co-ordinating the switch-on event, said: "This is a great initiative from the BID and will hopefully increase footfall to the town centre shops and market in the lead up to the switch-on activities.

"We are thankful of the support the BID have provided, while recognising they were unable to offer a financial contribution this year."

Anyone wanting to visit Barrow on Saturday November 19 can park in any of the town centre car parks from noon onwards by simply paying £1.30 for a ticket. This ticket will be recognised on the day as permitting motorists to remain in the car park until 6pm and beyond.