Free short term parking and a pay on exit system could be installed at car parks in Maldon town centre.

A review team has been looking at parking around the district and at a meeting of the Leisure Services and Community Development Select Committee on Tuesday councillors heard about some of the suggestions.

The review team feels that the system of pay and display should remain in the town and at Promenade Park, but the Chamber of Trade has suggested that a pay on exit system for the White Horse car park should be examined.

The current pay and display machines here involve typing in your vehicle registration number and an alternative is that this is removed, particularly as it will have to alter when registration plates are changed later this year.

Cllr Paul Rew said: "I support the idea of removing the system. I was inundated with complaints when this was introduced, and I thought one of the reasons we changed the machines last year, was so they were updated. Why should we have to pay more money to change them?"

Further investigation is also to be carried out into whether free short term parking bays should be installed in White Horse, Butt Lane and Friary Fields car park.

The team will look at allocating bays that can be parked in for free for 30 minutes, but must not be returned to within four hours, after consultation with businesses, Chamber of Trade and the Town Centre Manager showed there was a clear wish for some sort of free parking.

Cllr Tom Kelly said: "I really support this idea and think it would be good for the town."

Other areas that will be looked at include looking for other areas to build car parks, improving provisions for disabled drivers, signage, residents' car parking and other district parking.

Councillors will discuss a final report later this year.

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