Shoppers in Tendring are now able to park free across the District from 3pm onwards throughout the entire year.

Tendring District Council (TDC) has decided to expand its previous seasonal initiative in a bid to encourage more residents to shop local - and also to pull in visitors from outside the area.

The Council set up a campaign last year to offer free parking at specific times at selected sites run by the authority.

A decision was then taken to extend the scheme through until March 2012 with all sites included.

Now a decision has been taken to provide free parking after 3pm at all TDC car parks, except for the Naze and Holland Haven, all year round.

Pam Sambridge, TDC's Cabinet Member for Technical Services, said the Council is very keen to do what it can to boost trade in its towns and villages.

"It is absolutely vital that we encourage people to use their local shops otherwise they will run the risk of losing them, which is the last thing we want to see happen," she said.

"We understand that times are tough for everyone and money is tight. However, if we can get people to spend what they have within the District it will benefit our traders."

Cllr Sambridge said that people shopping locally will save on petrol, as well as not having to pay for their parking.

"It is also important to us as a tourist area that we bring in whatever measures we can to attract people into Tendring," she added.

"Every little helps and if they can get free parking after 3pm it may just pull them into the District and encourage them to stay longer and increase their spend in shops and restaurants."

Neil Stock, Leader of TDC, said that improved parking arrangements are one of the 28 recommendations put forward by Mary Portas in her recent report for the Government.

"The Government will be responding to the report in the spring but we want to get things moving now," he said.

"We will continue to look for other initiatives which will help to boost trade in Tendring."

23/1/12