SHOPPERS will be able to park free at Christmas despite calls to scrap the idea.

Brighton and Hove city car parks will be free on Small Business Saturday on December 6 and on the three Sundays before Christmas, on December 7, 14 and 21.

Motorists will not need to pay the normal tariffs in place at Norton Road, London Road, Regency Square, High Street and Trafalgar Street car parks.

The project is going ahead despite a plea to drop the idea made to the city council’s environment, transport and sustainability urgency sub-committee.

Officers recommended the committee, led by chairman Pete West, should rule to enforce parking tariffs on the days in question as normal.

A report said the scheme would cost the council £64,000, based on the impact of a trial last year, and would not be popular enough to see the economy reaping the rewards.

It said: “There is no measureable evidence to show the free parking introduced in December last year had a beneficial impact upon local business.

“Parking charges can benefit businesses by encouraging turnover of spaces, which helps to increase footfall and spend.

“Charging can help reduce congestion, making it easier for people to access businesses and reduce pollution, making the city more attractive.

“The city risks reputational damage due to congestion and poor visitor experience.

“There is a risk people with car park season tickets and hotels guests may find parking is not available.”

The recommendation was overruled as committee members Gill Mitchell and Geoffrey Theobald voted in favour of the project going ahead as planned.

Coun Theobald said it was “unbelievable” to think of cancelling the scheme.

He said: “Brighton and Hove has such a poor reputation around parking, with rip-off charges and using the motorist as a cash cow.

“Free parking will help in some small way to address that and the perception that many traders have that this council is anti-business.”

Coun Mitchell backed free festive parking in line with other councils across Sussex.