CHARGES at an Ulverston car park are set to be lowered by more than 50 per cent.

The initiative will see prices at the Buxton Place site reduced to 50p for one hour and £1 for two hours.

The scheme will be propped up by an annual £35,000 subsidy paid to South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) jointly by Ulverston Town Council and Ulverston Business Improvement District (BID).

Ulverston mayor Cllr Sharon Webster said: “We would like to thank SLDC for agreeing to support this very important town initiative.

“We know that car parking income is important for the district council to keep council tax charge down. However, the cost of car parking has been seen as a real challenge in Ulverston by traders and customers.

“Ulverston businesses have really risen to the challenge of the current Covid-19 crisis and we want to make it as easy as possible for the community to continue to support them.

“We believe that this initiative will mean that people can pop in to town for a couple of hours for only £1 for 2 hours or 50p for one hour. This, coupled with the existing £1 charge for the day at Stockbridge Lane car park, all adds up to a good deal and more choice for the community and visitors.”

Jan Hancock, chair of Ulverston BID, said: “Ulverston town centre traders have had this at the top of their wish list ever since the BID was first conceived in 2015.

“Their businesses will benefit massively from this initiative – the proposed two-hour dwell time will give people ample time to make numerous purchases, meet up for coffee or just browse the shops at leisure.

“It is a big commitment on our part but we are certain that it will meet with approval from all.”

The initiative will begin when SLDC’s district-wide free car parking coronavirus initiative finishes.