FOR the next four Sundays, Newport’s Friars Walk is offering free parking all day at its car park in a bid to boost trade in the city centre on what is traditionally the quietest shopping day of the week.

The free parking offer runs from this Sunday to Sunday April 16, as the Argus reported earlier this week.

And now, bosses at the shopping centre, which has proved a popular draw to the city since opening in November 2015, have spoken of the reasons behind the move.

Simon Pullen, centre manager for Friars Walk, says the aim is to boost trade to the shops, restaurants, leisure facilities, and the city centre in general, on Sundays.

He said: “Monday to Friday here for a lot of retailers exceeds their expectations but Sunday is a day they would like to improve.”

Traditionally Newport hasn’t been a Sunday shopping destination, he added, but the hope is that the offer of free parking will make people realise that a lot of shops, restaurants and other business are open for business seven days a week.

“By attracting more people into the city centre on a Sunday, we hope that will have a knock-on effect for the rest of the city centre and see other business opening as well,” added Mr Pullen.

On Sunday April 2, Blas Lleol will be hosting a food and craft market at the centre offering produce which has been locally sourced and made.

And Saturday April 1, kicks off the Friars Walk Easter event programme which includes family fun, entertainment, craft workshops, balloon modelling and much more.

During the four-weeks of free parking a number of businesses within Friars Walk have special offers running.

Mr Pullen said depending on the success of the free parking, the team behind Friars Walk would look into possibly extending it.

Friars Walk is home to a full-offer Debenhams department store, plus 26 other stores - including H&M, Next, Topshop, New Look and River Island.