SHOPPERS will soon be able to park for free in Malton town centre.

Motorists currently have to pay £1 to leave their vehicle in the 96-space short-stay car park in Malton Market Place for one hour, or £1.80 for two hours. But from May 15, people will be able to park their vehicles there for a maximum of two hours without having to pay a penny.

Malton councillor Paul Andrews, who has been campaigning for the reduction of car parking charges, hailed the move as a “great victory” for local traders.

He said: “I think it’ll be a tremendous boost for town centre shops. I think it will breathe new life into the town centre of Malton.”

The move has come about because Fitzwilliam Malton Estates (FME), which owns the Market Place, has taken over the lease from Ryedale District Council, and has decided to introduce free parking.

The company, which owns commercial and residential property in and around Malton, said it was introducing the scheme in an effort to attract more people to the town centre. It said recent market research in Malton suggested free/low cost parking was the number one reason people gave that would encourage them to visit the town.

Roddy Bushell, estate manager at FME, said: “Since free parking is something that we can provide, and it seems to be shoppers’ top priority, we thought that we should do it.

“The hope is that people will feel it is easier to pop into Malton. For example, we still have all the traditional fresh food shops, butchers, fresh fish, delis and greengrocers within easy reach of the Market Place car park.

“The estate is delighted to be able to bring free parking to Malton town centre as it is something we have wanted to do for a long time.”