FREE overnight parking, reduced ticketing hours and new all day tariffs are coming to the Cotswolds.

Cotswold District Council has agreed a number of changes to its car park charging system to encourage more people to visit town centres and spend longer there.

They will commence from March 1 next year and include removing overnight charges at the Brewery Car Park in Cirencester, with tickets only needed between 8am and 6pm. It is currently £1.50 to park overnight.

There will also be a new off-peak plus ticket that allows drivers to park during the hours of 8am to 10am and 4pm to 6pm and all day at weekends for a one-off fee of £50 for the year.

At car parks where Sunday charges apply, tickets will only be needed between 10am and 4pm, rather than the current 8am to 6pm period.

While there will be a £2 all day tariff at the car parks in Old Market Way in Moreton-in-Marsh and West Street Tetbury. It is currently £2.20 for three hours in both car parks, and £3.40 for 10 hours.

A study will also be commissioned to look into introducing alternative payment methods in all car parks, such as 'pay on foot ' where customers are issued a ticket on entry and pay on exit.

Council leader Cllr Lynden Stowe said: “We are mindful of the need to keep down costs for car park users and have already pledged to freeze all car parking charges until at least 2016, as well as introducing several price reductions and offers over the last few years, including weekly off-peak season tickets and the popular £2 all day parking fee at the Beeches car park in Cirencester.

"I believe that these latest proposals will bring even more benefits for residents, businesses, working people and shoppers across the district.

"We are also hoping that the new measures will enhance the visitor experience and increase the time spent in our market towns.”

Cllr Chris Hancock, who is responsible for parking issues, added: “All the car parks now have digital pay and display machines which accept multiple coins, debit and credit cards and payment options via a mobile phone, allowing the user to top up their car parking stay remotely, while shopping and away from their vehicle.

"We also want to investigate other quick and easy payment options such as ‘pay on foot’ - which automatically calculates the amount of time spent in a car park and issues a ticket enabling exit via a barrier – and automatic number plate recognition systems.”

For details of parking fees for council car parks, see cotswold.gov.uk/residents/environment/parking-and-public-toilets/car-parks