Parking scheme could boost town

A free parking scheme is to be extended in a Nottinghamshire town in a bid to boost trade.

A pilot scheme over Christmas increased the number of shoppers visiting Mansfield by up to around a quarter.

Mansfield Mayor Tony Eggington has also reduced market stall rents to help traders boost business.

Mansfield District Council said it would make up the money it loses from parking and rents by the government's cut in VAT.

Tony Eggington said: "We're beating the crisis, we ran this trial period, it proved beyond doubt successful.

"The footfall was up 25%, so we're extending it to the end of March and just hoping that people are going to flock into town, rather than go elsewhere and just keep everybody happy."

He added: "It's costing around £70,000 and we hope that the £70,000 that people will save in the parking costs they will spend in the shops and on the market. So it's a double-whammy and we hope that everybody wins in this."