One hour of free parking is currently available in all council-owned car parks, but the cabinet is expected to pass the latest proposal that will see this doubled. The move is part of the continuing drive to boost the number of people visiting town centres and to support local traders. Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental services, said:

“Shoppers and traders alike have told us how the current one hour of free parking has been a very welcome boost. Once again we are listening to what the people of Dudley borough have to say and we are extending the free parking to two hours to give shoppers a longer time in our town centres.”

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the council, said:

“People have told us that two hours of free parking will make a considerable difference and we are looking forward to rolling this out across the borough from the start of next month. This move will provide a huge boost to retailers across the borough.

"Dudley is the only council across the whole of the West Midlands providing this incentive and is bucking the national trend, which has seen many local authorities increase car parking charges using the motorist as a cash cow. With this move we are giving the biggest boost to the High Street that a local council can."

The move is expected to be approved at full cabinet later this month. For information on current parking tariffs in Dudley Council car parks people can visit the Dudley Council website.