Eight Felixstowe car parks will be offering free 30 minute parking from Friday in a bid to encourage people to shop local.

The eight are at: Brackenbury Fort, Clifflands, Convalescent, Crescent Road, Felixstowe Pier, Highfield Road and Landguard.

The move is to coincide with the easing of national coronavirus restrictions which will enable a wide range of businesses to reopen.

Last month, East Suffolk Council agreed to extend its existing free parking scheme to an additional 13 car parks in response to concerns from local businesses about the impact of Covid-19.

These changes will be introduced on Friday 4 December, meaning that the Council's 30-minute free parking tariff will be available in 48 different car parks across the district.

Having introduced new tariffs in August, which were designed to simplify charges and better reflect the needs and historic usage of parking facilities, it has become clear that issues created by the virus have affected parking behaviour.

Some car parks which previously did not offer this particular tariff were in towns where it was agreed that a large number of 'on street' parking bays were sufficient and the car parks themselves could prioritise shoppers and visitors making longer visits.

However, social distancing measures in towns have removed a number of these bays and because of this reduction in availability, the council has decided to offer it more widely as part of its 'off street' car park provision.

The council also believes that the overall impacts of Covid-19 on high streets and businesses mean that extra steps should be taken to encourage more people to return and 'shop local'.

Cllr Norman Brooks, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "Moving into Tier 2 enables many businesses to reopen and for customers to return safely to our towns to support our local businesses in the run up to Christmas. Social distancing measures have reduced the number of 'on street' bays and so it makes sense to increase availability in our car parks for people who are making quick 'pop in' visits to our town centres.

"Before this year, our car park charges varied enormously with no fewer than 56 different tariffs. These were inconsistent and difficult to justify, so we introduced a far simpler scheme which not only made it easier for people to understand but also reflected the genuine requirements of businesses and visitors alike."

Also from Friday December 4, with covid restrictions reduced, parking patrols will also be monitoring residential zones and car parks. Responsibility for managing roadside parking offences in Suffolk was transferred from the police to the district and borough councils earlier this year in a bid to improve parking locally and drive down nuisance and unlawful parking.

Felixstowe

Clifflands

Crescent Road

Highfield Road

Manor Terrace

Other East Suffolk car parks providing 30-minute free parking from Friday 4 December:

King Street

Blyburgate

Newgate

Bungay

Wharton Street

Framlingham

Market Hill

Angel North

Bridge Street

Thoroughfare

Kirkley

Pakefield Road

High Street

Battery Green

Clapham Road

Royal Green

Tennyson Road

Oulton Broad

Market Place

Sizewell

Ferry Road

Southwold Pier

Thorpness

Chapel Lane

The Percy Mason

Woodbridge

Oak Lane