FREE parking will begin in St Helens town centre from this weekend in a bid to encourage residents to support the local economy over the Christmas period.

Starting this weekend (Saturday, November 27) – the same day as the Christmas lights switch on event – free car parking will be available all-day Saturday until the end of January 2022.

This will be additional to the free parking already in place on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Free Saturday parking is also already available in Earlestown town centre.

Car parks free on a Saturday include:

Birchley Street – Surface Car Park

Central Street – Surface Car Park

Cotham Street – Surface Car Park

Hardshaw Centre – Roof Top Car Park

Mill Street – Surface Car Park

Millennium Centre – Surface Car Park

North John Street – Surface Car Park

Parr Street – Surface Car Park

Tolver Street – Surface Car Park

Tontine – Multi Storey Car Park

Ward Street – Surface Car Park

Waterloo Street – Surface Car Park

The offer does not apply to on street pay and display parking spaces.

St Helens town centre Christmas events

This year’s countdown to Christmas begins in Church Square on Saturday, November 27, ( noon to 6pm) – headlined by local comedy folk band, The Lancashire Hotpots.

At the former Chalon Way multi-storey site in Foundry Street, a winter tipi full of free festive arts and crafts activities will pitch up the same day.

A synthetic ice rink will be in place from Thursday December 2, joining the drive-in cinema which will be based there until Saturday, December 18.

Saturday, December 4 will see a Festive Fun event held in St Helens town centre between noon and 4pm – followed by a Santa and real reindeer visit the following Saturday (December 11), also from noon to 4pm).

Over at St Mary’s Market, there will be balloon modelling and Christmas bauble making on Saturday, December 4, followed by children’s entertainment and live music over the coming weeks.