PLANS to introduce free parking in Maldon Town Centre from 2pm on six Thursdays in the run-up to Christmas will be voted on by councillors next week.

The proposals include free parking from 2pm on 12, 19 and 26 November, then on 3, 10 and 17 December, possibly coinciding with some late-evening shopping opportunities.

Maldon's business board has also asked the council to extend the free parking afternoons to Christmas Eve.

A meeting of Maldon District Council's full council next Thursday (5 November) will decide on whether to allow council directors to grant the free parking afternoons.

It is estimated that the Christmas plan will cost a total revenue loss to the authority of £6,000.

Further talks on changing the charges for parking in the late afternoon and evening period more permanently

Councillors will also decide whether to give the nod to talks with local businesses on changing afternoon and evening car park charges in the town centre on a more permanent basis, with two proposals on the table. One would see the evening tariff starting at 3pm instead of 6pm on Mondays to Fridays and the other to do this on just one day of the week.

The potential evening changes would cause an estimated potential parking revenue loss of £1,500 and £500 per year respectively.

The officer report to councillors evening tariff ideas states: "It is hoped that this proposal will help bridge the early evening 'gap' between the daytime retail offer and the evening hospitality offer, progressing the vision of an improved evening economy and 'café culture'."