Stroud district councillors will discuss a report later this month which will start a consultation period on introducing charges in town centre car parks across the district.

Contactless payment, electric vehicle charging points, better bicycle parking and free parking after 3pm in some car parks will all be considered as part of proposals.

Stroud District Council’s leader Doina Cornell said:

“It’s important that these proposals go out for consultation and that’s what we will be doing later this month.

"The suggested charges compare favourably with other districts, and relatively low charges should help make more spaces available for shoppers and visitors, in turn increasing footfall.

"The health of our market towns is important to all of us.”

Stroud District Council currently operates 37 car parks, of which only nine charge a fee. The car parks cost the council about £50,000 a year to maintain.

The council commissioned an independent report which states that charging for car parks can increase turnover, and make more spaces available for shoppers and visitors throughout the day.

Alongside the consideration for the proposed new charges, planned improvements to council-owned car parks include installing electric vehicle charging points in Stroud, Nailsworth and Wotton under Edge; improving the provision of cycle racks in each town; and installing payment machines that will accept contactless credit and debit cards.

Other proposals include introducing one `free after 3pm’ scheme in car parks in Dursley, Nailsworth, Wotton-under-Edge, Stonehouse and Painswick and increasing the maximum stay in Stonehouse and Stroud to 72 hours to support rail commuters.

Parking permits will be available in all long stay car parks to allow frequent users to park at discounted rates, short stay car parks will have their maximum stay increased to three hours, and all the Stroud District Council-owned car parks will remain free to use after 5pm.

On June 14, strategy and resources committee members will consider the recommendation to enter a statutory consultation period.

Members of the public can submit questions to be put to the chair of the strategy and resources committee until noon on Monday 11 June.

Questions must be submitted in writing to the chief executive, democratic services, Ebley Mill, Ebley Wharf, Stroud either by post or by emailing democratic.services@stroud.gov.uk

Details of the meeting including the report and full agenda can be found on the council website.

The meeting can be watched live at stroud.gov.uk/webcast