Overnight parking charges in Reading town centre to go

The new free charge will come into force from mid-January if agreed by councillors

Overnight parking charges are set to be removed after concerns from visitors and residents in a Berkshire town.

Reading council introduced a trial in October which saw 24-hour parking charges come into force for spaces.

But following objections, there will no longer be a charge to park between 2000 and 0800 GMT if councillors support the plans at a meeting on 17 January.

If agreed, signs will be changed, with the free charge coming into effect from mid-January.

The authority said the move would mean town centre residents with little or no parking facilities at their properties would be able to use pay-and-display on-street spaces overnight.

Councillor Richard Willis, member for transport, said: "When the pay-and-display scheme was introduced I stated then that it was an experiment.

"Evidence suggests that while daytime charges have generally been accepted, overnight charges have caused some problems for a small number of residents and businesses.

"This change ensures that town centre visitors and businesses are supported by the council."