ELGIN CAR PARKS will be offering limited free parking from Monday after council officials revealed ticket machines had been adjusted for a six-month trial.
Councillors agreed last month that two car parks in the town – Batchen Lane and St Giles Centre – would offer free parking from 3pm each day.
The scheme has been introduced in an attempt to encourage visitors to the town – with the car park owned by Marks and Spencer also matching the council-sponsored initiative. While the plan had initially been intended only for the Batchen Street car park, councillors were convinced to extend it after members had asked for it to apply to all car parks in the town.
Councillor John Cowe, chairman of the economic development and infrastructure committee, said: “The ticket machines have now been adjusted so that no one will be charged – but motorists will need to take a ticket so we can accurately assess uptake levels at the end of the trial period.
“If it works as we hope then I expect it to be made a permanent feature of our multi-story car parks.”
Motorists using the car parks from 3pm each day are being asked to take a ticket as usual but they will not be required to pay.
Tickets should still be displayed on cars and failure to do so will risk a £65 fine while those using the car parks before 3pm will still need to ensure they have a paid ticket on display.