Pay and display parking in Braintree's main car park could be a thing of the past.

Studies are under way to see if paying at the end of the stay by putting the ticket in a machine would attract more shoppers.

The Braintree Council-owned George Yard multi-storey has for a long time come under fire from people who feel the pay and display scheme had a discouraging effect on potential visitors and customers.

At a meeting of the Town Centre Strategy Committee Group traders claimed more visitors would be encouraged to the town if the change was implemented.

Under Government legislation the council is obliged to provide the best possible service while assuring it is of high quality.

As a result, it will be looking into various complaints against the pay and display scheme as well as providing detailed research into all other options.

The council's car parks manager Simon Taylor said: "Under the Government's Best Value scheme, we are obliged to look into all aspects of the service and to provide what is best for the town.

"We want to provide a service that has as few drawbacks as possible for the town while being good for potential visitors."

Local businessman Brian Cutmore, of Crossman Investments, said: "This isn't the first time we as a group have looked into tackling the problems with this car park.

"It's about time something was done about it once and for all and we are in full agreement that reasonable research has to be done."

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