Free parking ends at council-owned car parks

Rock Street Car Park in Thornbury is one of the places where charges will be introduced

Completely free parking is to end at dozens of council-owned car parks later this month.

South Gloucestershire Council has confirmed that parking charges will come into force in 22 of its car parks from 19 May.

Charges will apply from 08:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Saturday, but parking will remain free on Sundays and bank holidays, except at park-and-ride sites and train station car parks.

Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member for communities and local places, said the new scheme was "relatively cheap compared to neighbouring authorities".

The new parking scheme has been brought in to help the council balance its budget and be able to "afford other essential services into the future", according to the authority.

Drivers will be charged 70p for the first hour in short-stay car parks, rising to £5 for up to four hours.

Parking in long-stay car-parks will range from £3 for the first four hours up to £5 for six hours.

The council has said that "at least 10 per cent of spaces" in short-stay car parks where charges apply will be free for stays of up to 30 minutes.

Staple Hill car park on Page Road is one of the 22 sites where changes will be implemented

Mr Rhodes, said the scheme "doesn't apply to all car parks".

"The scheme we are introducing is simple and relatively cheap compared to neighbouring authorities," he said.

"Where it does apply, the money we bring in will help protect essential services into the future.

"I've no doubt there will be a period of adjustment for some drivers, but I expect that most car owners already have several parking apps on their smartphones and are used to paying for parking almost everywhere they go."