Barking and Dagenham Council last night revealed that it will be extending its offer of free parking for NHS staff and key workers until the end of January 2021.

The extension of the offer was made at the council’s Cabinet meeting, will see NHS workers and key workers, such as some frontline council staff, carers, volunteers, teachers and police will be able to park in the borough’s car parks and in Residents and Paid Parking Bays in the controlled parking zones for free.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the council has issued nearly 1850 free parking permits, with over 1350 handed out to NHS workers.

Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, who announced the decision said: “Our NHS staff and key workers have worked incredibly hard throughout this whole pandemic, so I am thrilled to let them know that we are extending the free parking until the end of January.

“I hope this offer goes some way in letting these amazing people know how much we appreciate them.”

If a resident believes they should hold a free parking permit, they should contact the council by heading to https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/parking-permits.