TRADERS in the Cotswolds have given the thumbs up to free parking in council owned car parks on Mondays and Tuesday afternoons.

Cotswold District Council will be allowing motorists free afternoon parking during January and February next year on a trial basis.

This follows a decision earlier this year to set aside £25,000 for incentives to attract more motorists to the Cotswolds during traditionally quiet trading periods.

Councillor Chris Hancock said: “I am sure that this will be welcome news for many residents and also visitors to the district. We want to support local businesses after the Christmas/New Year period - a time when trading can be rather quiet – and we believe that this trial will encourage more use of our car parks in the winter months and, hopefully, entice more people into our local shops.”

Leader of the Council, Lynden Stowe said:“We are committed to ensuring that motorists using our car parks get a good deal. We have frozen parking charges since 2010 and our tariffs compare favourably with places like Cheltenham and Gloucester. We also recently introduced a half hour tariff in all our car parks where it was previously only available in a few. This free parking incentive on Monday and Tuesday afternoons in January and February is yet another example of how we are trying to balance the need for parking income to pay for services with requests from motorists and traders to provide parking concessions on occasions.”

Owner of The Moreton Gallery, Charlie McFadden said: “Any help is welcome. We should be encouraging people into the town. Parking fees are off-putting to customers. Trade is suffering all over the country.”

Tracey Humphries, of Humphries Shoes in Park Street, Stow said: “It’s a good incentive for visitors. The council owned car park is popular and any help, especially in the winter is welcome.”