To encourage residents to shop locally, Dorset Council is offering free parking over the festive season.
All Dorset Council-owned town centre car parks will be free on Small Business Saturday (4th December 2021) in Beaminster, Blandford, Bridport, Corfe Castle, Dorchester, Gillingham, Lyme Regis, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Wareham, Weymouth and Wimborne.
Additional free parking dates have also been confirmed for individual town council Christmas events in Blandford, Dorchester, Gillingham, Lyme Regis, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Sturminster Newton and Weymouth.
Please note: on-street parking charges, and private car park charges will still apply. You are encouraged to check signage on machines at each car park to avoid paying unnecessarily.
Free festive parking in Dorset
Beaminster
Free parking on Saturday 4 December.
- The Square
- Yarn Barton
Blandford
Free parking on Saturday 4 December, plus free parking on Thursday 2 December to support the Yuletide Festival.
- Church Lane
- Eagle House Gardens
- Langton Road (short stay)
- Langton Road (long stay)
- Langton Road (commercial)
- Marsh & Ham
- Marsh & Ham (coaches)
- Station Court
Bridport
Free parking on Saturday 4 December.
- East Street (short stay)
- East Street (long stay)
- Football Club (free parking courtesy of town council)
- Hope Terrace
- Plottingham (free parking courtesy of town council)
- Rope Walks
- South Street
- West Street (commercial)
- West Street
- Wykes Court
Dorchester
Free parking on Saturday 4 December, plus free parking on Saturday 27 November and Wednesday 22 December as part of the ‘Shop Dorchester for Christmas’.
- Durngate Street
- Fairfield (short stay)
- Fairfield (long stay)
- Old Market
- Top O Town (short stay)
- Top O Town (long stay)
- Top O Town (commercial)
- Trinity Street (south)
- Wollaston Field
Gillingham
Free parking on Saturday 4 December, plus free parking on Saturday 27 November and Sunday 28 November to support festive shopping.
- Chantry Fields
- Gas lane
- High Street (short stay)
- High Street (long stay)
Lyme Regis
Free parking on Saturday 4 December, plus free parking on Thursday 23 December to support the ‘Carols round the Tree’ event.
- Lower Sea Lane, Charmouth (4 Dec only)
- Charmouth Road
- Broad Street
- Cobb Gate
- Holmbush
Shaftesbury
Free parking on Saturday 4 December, plus free parking on Friday 26 November, Saturday 27 November, Sunday 28 November and Monday 29 November to support the switching on of the Christmas lights. And Christmas Eve – Friday 24 December.
- Angel Lane
- Bell Street
Sherborne
Free parking on Saturday 4 December, plus free parking on Sunday 5 December to support festive shopping.
- Acreman Street
- Coldharbour
- Culverhayes (short stay)
- Culverhayes ( long stay)
- Culverhayes (commercial)
- Newland North
- Old Market Yard
Sturminster Newton
Free parking on Saturday 4 December, plus free parking on Saturday 27 November to support the town’s Christmas event.
- Church Street
- Station Road
Wareham
Free parking on Saturday 4 December.
- West Street (Corfe Castle)
- Bonnets Lane
- Connegar Lane
- Rempstone
- Streche Road
Weymouth
Free parking on Saturday 4 December, plus free parking on Saturday 27 November to support the switching on of the Christmas lights. There will also be free parking on Thursday 16 December, when the Rifles Band will be playing by the tree.
- Cosens Quay (after 9am)
- Council Offices, North Quay
- Governors Lane (maximum stay 3 hours)
- Harbourside (maximum stay 3 hours)
- Melcombe Regis
- Park Street
- Pavilion
- Pavilion Forecourt
- Royal Yard
- Swannery
Wimborne
Free parking on Saturday 4 December.
- King Street
- Allenview South
- Allenview West
- Allenview North
- Westfield Close
- Pye Corner
- Old Road
- Hanham Road
- Poole Road
- Leigh Road
- Park Lane
Source: Dorset County Council website.