The proposals would mean free parking for drivers in the City Centre, West End, Old Town and Grassmarket in on-street pay and display bays after 5.30pm on weekdays from December 1st 2007 until January 6th 2008. Parking will also be free every Saturday afternoon during December in the same areas. A full list of streets is at the end of this release.

The Policy and Strategy Committee will consider the recommendations, which will also make the scheme an annual event, at its next meeting on November 6th.

If members approve the report, it will be the third year in a row that free parking will be offered during the festive season in the city centre. However this year’s ‘present’ for drivers will include free Saturday afternoon parking after the Council held extensive talks with the city centre business community.

Cllr Jenny Dawe, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said:
“Edinburgh is home to the world’s best Winter festival. Edinburgh city centre is a world-class, iconic experience, particularly the wonderful atmosphere generated by Winter Wonderland during our Capital Christmas. It is important that Council does all that it can to promote the city centre. That is why I am delighted that we have managed to work closely with the business community to meet their aspirations through relaxing our parking regulations. When combined with the huge investment that we have made in Park Ride services, the Council has more than played its part in ensuring that the city centre, and all of its businesses, should enjoy a happy and prosperous festive season.”

The decision to relax parking regulations around the festive period was taken after extensive discussions with the business community who support the initiative.

Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Ron Hewitt welcomed the announcement. He said: "We are delighted that our continuing collaboration with the council over giving Edinburgh's City Centre retailers the best support is recognised by this investment by the City Council in using parking relaxations to further enhance the attractiveness of the City Centre in the run up to Christmas at what we all know is the busiest period for shoppers in the capital. Customers and traders alike will appreciate this welcoming approach, and we applaud the City Council for its flexibility."

Graham Russell, the Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses in Edinburgh, welcomed the slackening of the restrictions, saying: “We especially welcome the recognition by the Council of the crucial importance of this trading period to the Capital City's business community as a whole, to the acknowledged success of last year's scheme and to the extension of the number of streets that are to be included this year. We are very pleased that our lobbying has had a successful conclusion.”

Gordon Drummond, General Manager of Harvey Nichols in Edinburgh, said: “Harvey Nichols is delighted that the Council is relaxing parking restrictions in Edinburgh during December and the beginning of January. We think it will considerably help late afternoon shopping and encourage people to experience the fantastic Christmas atmosphere in the city centre.”

Isabella Miller, Chair of the Retail Policy Group, said: “The Council's offer of free parking in the city centre for Christmas shopping further enhances the Edinburgh city centre offer to customers, making Christmas shopping in the city centre easier.”

Andrew Murphy, Managing Director of John Lewis, said: "Retailers will be very pleased to see evidence of the Council's continued recognition of the importance of the Christmas and New Year trading period to the city centre."

Ian Broadfoot, City Centre Manager, Edinburgh City Centre Management Company, said: "This initiative will enhance and promote the Edinburgh City Centre festive experience for the benefit of shoppers, residents, visitors and retailers alike. Edinburgh is a unique city year round but it becomes even more exciting with all the holiday period activities in addition to the quality shopping opportunities. The activity that takes place in Edinburgh in the run up to and during Christmas and Hogmanay brings sustainable economic benefit to the city centre".

Council Phil Wheeler, Transport Convener at the City of Edinburgh Council, said:
“Parking restrictions are vital for ensuring a good turnover of custom and for preventing drivers clogging up parking bays all day. However we realise that during the festive period people’s reasons for coming into the centre of the town are different and we want to encourage everyone to come in and enjoy the shopping experience plus the wonderful atmosphere of the Winter Wonderland and other events that make Edinburgh’s festive season so great.”

The full list of streets involved are:

Inner city centre on-street parking is now a maximum of three hours. Other city centre parking bays are four hours maximum, except on main traffic routes/bus corridors, including Clerk Street/Nicholson Street, Bruntsfield Place/Morningside Road. Each pay and display machine will be altered to indicate the maximum time allowed.

At all times, parking is not allowed on double yellow and red lines for safety reasons.

Please look at on-street signs as well as those on parking meters for clarification of on-street restrictions.

Parking paid for after 5.30pm will carry forward until then next day.

Paid parking usually applies in Edinburgh’s central zone from 8.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Saturday.