CHESTER'S free after three parking initiative has been trumped in neighbouring Ellesmere Port.

Councillors are due to hold a series of meetings on Wednesday and Thursday (November 12 and 13) to agree a move by borough council leader Justin Madders (Lab, Ledsham) to abolish all parking charges for the main town centre car park from January.

If agreed, shoppers will be able to park for up to four hours without charge seven days a week.

Retailers and market traders in the town put in a 7,000 signature petition for free after three but Cllr Madders successfully argued for charges to be abolished completely to restore free parking.

“We only have a few months left as an authority and we feel that in that short period it is right in these difficult economic times to do what we can to help keep the town centre vibrant,” he said.

“We felt the campaign for free parking after three had merit but we were concerned it could just shift visitors from one part of the day to the other.

“We needed something extra to attract people to the town centre in this competitive environment and decided that the best way to do that was to make the main shopping car park totally free.

“The proposals will allow car users to park in the main car park for up to four hours without charge which we hope will encourage people to come and stay a bit longer than they would otherwise have done.

“I hope it gives the town centre a big boost.”

The cost to the Labour controlled borough's coffers until the end of March will be £190,000 according to a report.

Ellesmere Port's parking services manager Margaret Morris says this will have “significant” implications for the council's budget and for that of the Tory controlled Cheshire West and Chester Council if it continues after April 1 when the new authority takes over.

The full year cost is said to be £570,000.

Deputy council leader Cllr Tony Sherlock (Lab, Grange & Rossmore) says: “The new authority will have to decide what it wants to do after April when they take over but I hope they take a leaf out of our book and carry on supporting the local economy in this way.”

Highways and resources chiefs will meet to debate the move in special meetings on Wednesday and Thursday followed by a special meeting of the full council, also on Thursday.

Councillors are hoping it might be possible to offer free parking before Christmas.