Campaigners have welcomed a raft of proposed new car parking measures, despite shoppers facing charges between 10p and 60p more on certain tariffs.

Maldon District Council caused outrage in November after the Standard revealed the authority was planning to axe free parking in town centre car parks on evenings and Sundays.

But after significant opposition and a 2,800-signature petition spearheaded by campaign group Stop Taxing Our Parking (STOP), the plans were unanimously refused at the final hurdle in December.

In January, it emerged the council was considering raising parking charges by 10p, but those plans now appear to have been ditched in favour of a more lucrative 10 per cent rise and a package of other changes that includes the creation of a new two hour tariff.

No increase is planned for all-day parking charges.

The proposals have been put forward by a council working group following discussion with STOP and a survey of car park users last month.

They also include the reintroduction of six free 30 minutes parking spaces in Butt Lane, transferability of tickets between all car parks except White Horse Lane and the introduction of a new weekly ticket.

STOP campaigner Mary Powell, of Maldon Business Association, said: “We ran a successful campaign and give the council credit, they listened to our proposals and have come up with something very reasonable."

See today's Maldon and Burnham Standard for the full story