Looking to do some Christmas shopping in December but keeping an eye on the pennies? Want to support local businesses whilst buying your gifts or goodies? If so, you could enjoy free bus journeys across the borough just before Christmas.
Waverley Borough Council is working with Hoppa to offer subsidised bus transport for the two weeks before Christmas, in order to support the borough’s high streets and encourage residents to shop local.
There will be free travel across Farnham, Godalming, Cranleigh and Haslemere between: 9.30am-2.30pm, Monday 11 to Friday 15 December and Monday 18 to 22 December. Please note this only includes travel to your nearest local high street in one those four centres, i.e. Hale to central Farnham or Milford to Godalming.
All you need to do to register is go to the Hoppa Christmas Shopper web page or you can call 01428 681701.
For those with their own transport, there will also be a free afternoon of parking “free after 3pm” taking place in:
Godalming: 7 December
Cranleigh: 12 December
Haslemere: 14 December
Farnham: 20 December
Some local retailers will also be opening on Sundays throughout December to give residents more time to shop.
Councillor Liz Townsend BEM, Waverley Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development, said: “We are still very much in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and many are watching what they spend, especially with the festive season approaching. Retailers, like, anyone are facing considerable challenges and this joint initiative with Hoppa is aimed at supporting both residents and local businesses. If you can, shop local, and it will help both you and your community.”
*Please note that the Christmas subsidised bus initiative only applies to the local dial a ride services and does not include Surrey Connect services that have recently been introduced in Farnham and Cranleigh.