Motorists using car parks in a Mid Wales town to “pop” to the shops could be given up to an hour’s free parking under new proposals.Drivers in Welshpool could benefit from the plans after councillors launched a bid to clamp down on illegal parking in the region. Town clerk Robert Robinson today said it could be possible for the town council to assist Powys County Council with the cost of a scheme.

He said: “I’ve been in touch with the county council to ask them how much they would stand to lose if they let motorists park free for up to an hour in all Welshpool car parks.

“If they come back to me with a cost then it’s a possibility that the town council would be able to compensate them for the shortfall.”

He said the proposal was still in its early stages and no concrete plans had been discussed.

“The main reason why we want to offer free car parking in the town is to help clamp down on illegal parkers,” he said.

“A lot of motorists come into town just to pop to the bank or to get milk, they don’t want to pay for a 70 pence ticket so they end up parking somewhere unsafe and usually on the street.

“A lot of people who can’t find anywhere to park in the town end up going elsewhere to buy there milk, bread or paper because they don’t want to pay the car park fees.

“As yet I don’t know the ins and outs on how the system will be run and I haven’t got a clue about how it will be monitored.

“But if the town wants it badly enough I’m sure we can make it happen because nothing is impossible.”

A spokesman for Powys County Council said it is the authority’s policy to retain pay and display car parks within Powys.

He said: “Over recent years the charges have been harmonised throughout the county. Income generated from car parks offset the costs of other services and is vital in ensuring that council tax increases are kept to a minimum.

“Any reduction in this revenue would mean an increase in council tax or a cut in services.

“However if Welshpool Town Council has any proposal to subsidise car parking within the town, we would be interested to talk to them,” he added.