Swindon Council benefits from the use of town centre cark parks to the tune of £3 million a year and controls some 5,000 off-street parking spaces with a further 400 in Old Town.

Private parking operators control around 1,000 spaces - the majority of which are centred around the station and there is a handful of free on-street waiting spaces of one to two hours on the fringe of the shopping centre. The council this week announced it plans to increase charges at some short and long stay car parks in and around the town centre from April 7.

Parking charges at town centre short stay car parks including The Wyvern levels 1,2 and 3, Queen Street, Catherine Street, King Street, Brunel North and West, The Parade, Clarence House and Fleming Way will be unchanged between 6am and 6pm, with slight increases for Sundays and bank holidays.

Old Town car parks, including Britannia Place, Dammas Lane and Prospect Place, plus those in Commercial Road, Morley Street, The College, Regent Close and Princess Street have increased charges for stays of up to six hours between 6am and 6pm.

There have been price alterations at town centre and Old Town long stay car parks including Cheltenham Street, Harding Street, Spring Gardens, Sheppard Street, Bath Road and The Planks.

However, residents and visitors' parking permits remained unchanged at £12 a year, but 12-month business permits have increased slightly.