THERE will be one hour free parking in a Callington car park thanks to a groundbreaking agreement with a local supermarket, Cornwall Council and the town council.

The scheme will operate in the New Road Car Park for a trial period and will offer the first hour’s parking free to shoppers visiting the town — but people are warned, if they do not use it they will lose it.

Cornwall Councillor and Callington’s Portreeve Cllr Andrew Long facilitated the project.

He worked alongside representatives from the Co-operative store and Cornwall Council’s parking department to secure the new bid, aimed at encouraging local people and visitors to shop in the town centre.

Cllr Long said: “Like many towns across Cornwall and the UK, Callington has been suffering from the twin pressures of changing shopping patterns and also the edge of town supermarkets that offer free parking.

“This deal, which could only have happened with the support of the Co-operative Stores, gives people the opportunity to shop at that store and the town centre for free, which is we believe, a first for the Duchy in council-run car parks.

“In order to gain the free parking, drivers will have to add their number plate as usual in the car park and press the one hour button to receive the ticket.”

Town council clerk Helen Dowdall said: “We welcome the agreement and it is great to see people working together. However, it is only going to work if the people of the town use the free parking and shop local.

“This is only a trial period of a few months to assess the success or otherwise.

“So now it is up to the traders of the town to think of innovative ways of getting people to come here, and also the people of our community.

“If we do not use it, we will lose it.”

The trial is expected to last a few months. The Co-operative and Cornwall Council will then review it and assess the level of success before deciding if the scheme is to continue.

For more information, contact Cllr Long on 07812 597257 or Helen Dowdall on 01579 384039.