Shops want towns to offer free parking during sales

Towns around Belgium should make life easier for shoppers by offering free on-street parking during the sales, a trade union has recommended.

Self-employed union SNI says parking measures in several cities are insufficient, especially Liège, Namur and Charleroi, where streets near main shopping areas often limit free parking to 15 or 30 minutes.

The SNI says that in the January and July sales, and in the run-up to Christmas, a three-hour allowance would be more welcome.

A poll by the union of 288 clothing and footwear stores has found retailers are generally satisfied with the first weekend of the January sales, which began on Thursday.

They estimate turnover is about 5% higher than the first weekend of the 2018 winter sales.

Photo: Hatim Kaghat/Belga