It's Ards versus Bangor as row erupts over free Christmas parking plan

Plans for promotional town centre parking tariffs were discussed at a recent meeting of the Ards and North Down Borough Council Environment Committee.

And a vote to implement a Christmas Saturday free car parking trial in Bangor, while Newtownards charges £1 for five hours, caused a split in the chamber and amongst the parties with the Bangor trial eventually passed.

There are 22 charged car parks in the borough: nine in Bangor, three in Holywood and 10 in Newtownards.

The council has estimated that introducing free Saturday parking from 21st November to 31st December in Bangor would cost it £5,175.20. If it had been all 22 car parks, the council would have lost £15,618.37.

Officials organised meetings the borough’s Local Action Groups, made up of community representatives, local Chambers of Commerce, elected members, and other key stakeholders, to discuss potential promotional Christmas tariffs for 2026, with different responses from different areas.

Regarding the Newtownards the report states: “The LAG recognised the difficulties that free parking could create in Newtownards town centre, particularly in relation to space blocking and turnover in busy town centre car parks during the festive season, and the potential negative impact that could have on trade.

“It was agreed that the existing £1 for five hours tariff should be promoted more effectively this year, and there was no support for free parking for Christmas 2026.”

The Holywood group also voiced support for the £1 five hours tariff, and spoke against free parking at Christmas

Regarding Bangor, the report states: “During the meeting, members discussed how free parking on Saturdays from the Christmas light switch-on (21 November) could support businesses within Bangor city centre over the Christmas period.

"The LAG considered that consistency with the other two towns was not required, as the needs of each area differ and it is the role of the LAGs to highlight those local needs.

“An email was sent to members of the Newtownards and Holywood LAGs to advise them of the outcome of the Bangor meeting and invite comments. Newtownards Chamber urged Bangor to reconsider and adopt a consistent approach. Bangor Chamber maintained the position agreed at the LAG meeting.”

At the Environment Committee, Ards North Down Mayor Craig Blaney, who is also a Bangor UUP representative, said: “Ultimately having the flexibility within the parking system to provide what different towns want represents hopefully a good use of our powers.

“There is not a one-size-fits-all across the borough. In Bangor the free parking will really benefit the traders at Christmas time.”

Newtownards representative, Alderman Naomi Armstrong-Cotter said: “I think it is unfortunate that we don’t have a parking policy across each town across the borough.

"We have spent a lot of time together working on a parking schedule, and it is nice to know we can separate out depending on the individual Chambers, because that is obviously the precedent being set here.

“£5,000 doesn’t seem a lot of money, yet it is a lot of money to rate payers, especially the ones that are coming to Newtownards, and paying their money. While they don’t have to pay in other areas. It doesn’t send a good message.

She said she was “not content.”