PARKING in any of Liskeard's car parks will be £1 all day next Saturday in a bid to encourage more people into the town centre.

The trial offer coincides with the town council's first new open-air market day.

Cornwall Council says it is supporting the town council's plans to encourage more people to shop locally.

Graeme Hicks, of Cornwall Council's transportation, highways and environment operations, said: 'This is a one-off trial which will help us to determine whether such offers help to bring more people into town centres and to assess the wider impacts on both parking patterns and income.'

Town mayor Tony Powell is calling for as many people as possible to make the most of this offer. 'The more the car parks are used on that day, the stronger the case Liskeard can present to Cornwall Council that cheaper parking works,' he said.

'Saltash has shown that a subsidised Saturday car park charging policy can have a very positive effect and we believe the evidence we will gather will support this. We are delighted that Cornwall Council has responded so positively to our request.

'We believe that, given the fall in car park usage at weekends, this is potentially a cost neutral exercise in revenue terms. If so, then it will give the town council the opportunity to consider underwriting car park charges on market days on a regular basis.'

The mayor added that in conjunction with the Town Team, monitoring of car park usage would be carried out.

This would provide evidence to help at the ongoing discussions with Cornwall Council for an arrangement in which the town's car parks could be leased back to the town council.

Jan Powell, Liskeard Cornwall councillor, said: 'This is good news and I will be working with the town council to analyse the various options gathered over the last year to help the town council to present Cornwall Council with a sensible plan to take over car park management.'

Gavin Davis, chairman of Liskeard Chamber of Commerce, said: 'The £1 charge on the new market day is an excellent idea and it is nice to see Cornwall Council supporting it. Hopefully it will be successful and set a precedent for future markets.

'The town council has worked hard to bring back a market to the town and negotiate the cheaper parking for the first one. This should work well for everyone by increasing the footfall around the town.'

The £1 parking ticket for the Cattle Market, Lower and Upper Sungirt, Rapsons and Westbourne car parks must be accompanied by a special Cornwall Council voucher.