AN under fire council has announced plans to change a controversial parking scheme after months of criticism and two petitions launched calling for the new system to be scrapped.

Dave Gooderham

AN under fire council has announced plans to change a controversial parking scheme after months of criticism and two petitions launched calling for the new system to be scrapped.

Babergh District Council has this morning revealed it hopes to make the car parking ticket machines in Sudbury operational 24 hours a day - in response to residents who fall foul of the regulations in the evenings, overnight and in the early morning.

More than £20,000 was raked up in fines during the first two months of the new scheme in a town famed for its free parking.

In one instance, a motorist was slapped with a fine after he was unable to display a ticket in one of Sudbury's short stay car parks before an early morning medical appointment.

Ryan Jones, Babergh's head of contract and asset management, said: “We are aware that a small minority need to use the car parks during off-peak times before 8am and thus far have been forced to return to their cars after 8am to get a ticket or risk getting a fine.

“Although not entirely in the council's control, Babergh is striving to make these changes - which will be accompanied by signs explaining this adaptation within the next few weeks.”

The changes include allowing motorists to remain in a car park until 11am, when they have displayed a ticket during off-peak times, and switching off the machines between midday on Saturdays until 5pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.