SPECIAL car parking arrangements will come to an end as major gas works are completed in Penrith. 

The arrangements introduced during the scheme will come to an end on Friday, April 19. 

Penrith Business Improvement District (BID) agreed to cover the cost of making parking on all Penrith’s council-operated pay and display car parks free of charge after 3pm while the works, which started in January, were being carried out by Northern Gas Networks to reinforce the main gas supply on Middlegate and King Street.

Now the works have been completed the car parks will return to normal tariffs and charging periods from April 19. Signage will be installed in the car parks to remind drivers.

A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said: “The BID’s funding has provided free parking after 3pm in town centre car parks since January 12.

“The gas works were not being undertaken by the council, however we were happy to work with the BID to explore ways to mitigate the impact of the works on local businesses and the community.’’