Free no ticket parking on council-owned car parks comes to an end from today, motorists have been reminded.

It was put in place as a temporary measure at the start of lockdown and extended until the end of July to help frontline staff who still needed to travel to work during lockdown.

From Saturday it will revert back to two hours free parking on council car parks during the day. Motorists will have to get a ticket from machines as per the previous arrangements to cover their two hours free parking. Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental, highways and street services, said:

”This was always intended to be a temporary measure imposed at the height of lockdown, which we extended until August 1. But we are now reverting back to our free two-hour parking, which will mean people will have to get a ticket from the machine when they park to cover the free two hours.

“We don’t want anyone to be caught out by the change and to end up getting a parking ticket and a fine.

“The two-hour free parking offer will remain in place indefinitely as a way of supporting traders and increasing footfall in our town centres.”