CALLS for free parking for quick visits to town centres have been heeded at last by Cornwall Council.

Motorists have long objected to having to pay for short stops in car parks in towns in South East Cornwall.

They have argued that it's just not worth buying a car parking ticket when they only want to nip to the shops for a pint of milk or a newspaper.

Businesses have also complained bitterly about the council's car parking policy, saying it drives people away from town centres.

Now the council, through a seven-week trial, is going to allow drivers to park for up to 30 minutes free of charge in its car parks across the county.

The free parking move was publicised at the Cattle Market car park in Liskeard by local Cornwall Councillor Sally Hawken, Liskeard Chamber of Commerce secretary Jane Pascoe and Bert Biscoe who is the council cabinet member with responsibility for transport.

Businesses in town centres will be hoping to see an upturn in takings thanks to the trial which begins tomorrow and runs until April 20, which is Easter Sunday.

The council will be monitoring the uptake of the free parking to see where the demand is greatest.

Cllr Biscoe said: 'It is very important that car parks should contribute to the competitive environment of our town centres and that the council should manage the car parks to support local businesses.

'This trial is an effort to understand what measures, when and in which places, we can use in future to enhance trading, improve accessibility for people needing to come into town centres for services and sustain car parks income.'

The council said that because it would be too costly to change its pay and display machines for the duration of the trial, drivers will need to use the RingGo mobile phone payment service, for which there will be no transaction fee. First-time users are advised to register online at http://www.ringgo.co.uk">www.ringgo.co.uk