Councillors have voted to continue offering free parking in a Wiltshire town centre despite rising costs.

At a meeting of Malmesbury Town Council’s planning and environment committee, members voted to enter into a funding agreement with Wiltshire Council to suspend parking fees in selected car parks from October 1 until September 30, 2025.

The decision means drivers will benefit from continued free parking for two hours in the Station Road car park and free parking on bank holidays at both Station Road and Cross Hayes.

Town councillors decided to continue with the scheme despite the cost rising 23 per cent from £9,478 last year to £11,676.55 this year.

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Members of the committee also requested to receive regular data on how the car park is used throughout the year to monitor the uptake of the scheme.

Malmesbury’s offering of free parking at Station Road has been running for several years and is designed to draw shoppers and visitors into the town.

The policy will be reassessed once again next year, when the current funding arrangement comes to an end.

Wiltshire Council offers all town councils the opportunity to fund parking schemes in their area for either one or two hours of free parking.

Each council must decide if they are willing to subsidise these policies.