DUDLEY Council chiefs say they plan to make free parking a permanent offer for the borough - following a successful trial run.

Motorists have been parking for free for two hours on council car parks in Dudley, Brierley Hill, Halesowen and Sedgley since a pilot scheme launched in April.

Following its success - council bosses have now promised to offer one hour’s free parking on all council-owned car parks from October 1, including those in Stourbridge and Kingswinford.

Analysis has shown vehicle numbers using the car parks has risen in the areas where the two-hour free parking has been trialled, although footfall has not increased significantly.

The two-hour trial will continue to be analysed until it comes to an end on September 30.

But council bosses say they intend to keep free parking as a permanent offer – and in the first instance they will be rolling out one hour of free parking, as part of a new trial, across the whole borough from October.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, Dudley’s cabinet member for environmental services, said: “We have listened to local people and anecdotally they have told us the towns are busier than ever.

"This is great news for business and something that we want to build on so we are now working up the finances to ensure we can make free parking a permanent offer.

“Although the data does not reflect a huge upturn in the number of people walking through the town, we made a firm commitment to do everything we can to listen to local traders and work in their best interests, which is why we are making it clear free parking will be in place after the trial.

“We are now going to adapt the trial to one hour and include all borough car parks so we can analyse this impact before introducing the best option for the borough.”

Councillor Patrick Harley, Dudley Council’s leader, said: “Offering free parking in our towns was a long term promise and I have stood by that and we fully intend to retain free parking after this trial. We have to make sure we listen to local people who visit and work in our town centres in order to help them thrive.

“Hopefully this hour of free parking on all council pay and display car parks, including those in Stourbridge and Kingswinford, will be welcomed by all traders and shoppers to boost our important local town centres.”

People who want to take advantage of the one-hour trial need to print and display a free parking ticket from the machines already in place.

Normal charges will be in place for people parking for longer than one hour and return is prohibited within three hours of leaving.

Additional signs publicising the one-hour free parking will be displayed following its introduction.

For information on current parking tariffs for Dudley Council car parks check out www.dudley.gov.uk/resident/parking-roads.

Results of the pilot will be considered by a future meeting of the cabinet and final decisions on funding for free parking will be taken by full council as part of the budget making process.