Free parking is their christmas gift to towns from councillors

CHRISTMAS came early for traders in Tuam and other towns throughout the county when the members of Galway Co Council decided to make them a gift of free parking from December 1 until the end of the year.
The move is designed to encourage shoppers to keep their business local this Christmas in the hope of giving hard-pressed traders a boost at the most important time of their trading calendar.
However, the move was not welcomed by council officials. Director of Services Jim Cullen pleaded that instead of providing a boost for trade, free parking could have the opposite effect if the bonus was abused by people who left their car parked on the streets all day.