PARKING will be free in Salisbury City from this Saturday until further notice to help support local businesses during the ongoing situation.

The move follows the extraordinary saga of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, who were found poisoned near the Zizzi restaurant in the city centre on Sunday, March 4.

The UK Prime Minister Theresa May, has blamed the Russian government for the attack on the pair, who are still in a critical condition in Salisbury District Hospital.

The couple are thought to have been poisoned with a “military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia”.

The attack and the subsequent police investigation has left much of Salisbury city centre cordoned off, resulting in a drop in visitor numbers and trade for the city’s shops and tourist attractions.

Because of this, Wiltshire Council has decided to make parking all its car parks in the city free in response to feedback from local businesses that this is needed to help encourage shoppers and visitors into the city centre to enjoy what is on offer.

Anyone using a short stay car park will still have a maximum stay of three hours of free parking, so the spaces can be used by as many people as possible.

Baroness Scott OBE, leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “We know people are rightly concerned about Salisbury, and it is important we encourage residents and visitors to enjoy our beautiful and historic city and to promote that it is very much business as usual.

“We are working diligently with local and national agencies and the local MP John Glen to support the local community and businesses. We recognise that providing free car parking will help to increase the number of visitors and shopper footfall in the city centre.

“We will be doing everything we can to assist and support Salisbury through this extraordinary situation.”

Park & Ride will also continue to be free of charge for anyone boarding from one of the five city Park & Ride sites.

Signs promoting free parking will be erected in all Wiltshire Council operated car parks.

This initiative is part of a multi-agency approach to promote that it’s business as usual in Salisbury city centre.