SOUTH Lakeland District Council will be offering free Sunday parking throughout the district in the four-week run up to Christmas. Parking will be free on December1, 8, 15 and 22 in all of its pay-and-display car parks in Ambleside, Bowness, Windermere, Grange, Grasmere, Kirkby Lonsdale, Milnthorpe, Ulverston and Kendal. The offer also covers the pay-on-exit car park at the Westmorland Shopping Centre, Kendal. Coun Giles Archibald, Portfolio Holder for Town Centres and Small Business, said: “We hope to spread some festive cheer for seasonal shoppers through our free Sunday parking in all of our pay-and display-car parks in the district in December. “SLDC is keen to ensure the continued vibrancy of our local towns and we hope that both shoppers and local shops will benefit from these concessions. “We want local businesses to be able to capitalise on opportunities to increase trade and it is vital for us to support our local shops at what is a really important trading time for them. I would like to encourage traders to advertise the free parking and take advantage of it by considering special opening hours during these Sundays in December. “Shoppers will be able to take advantage of the offer and buy gifts for their friends and families or even buy a little festive treat for themselves from the wide array of shops in the district.”