AN extra hour of free parking will be offered at a Tiverton car park in a bid to ease traffic congestion in the area.

For a trial period, Mid Devon District Council is planning to waive charges in the Westexe car park from 5pm to 6pm.

Users of the car park currently pay to leave their vehicles until 6pm.

This means that motorists returning from work elsewhere in the county will be able to park their cars free of charge overnight as long as they move them by 8am or buy a ticket, thereby freeing up spaces on the street.

The council's portfolio holder for street scene Cllr Ray Radford said "It has been brought to our attention, by the councillors in this area, that some of the congestion problems in the Westexe area of town are caused by local residents returning to their homes, and finding that the road is congested with commuter vehicles. This results in a situation where they have nowhere to park other than in the car park. It is for that reason that we are bringing the free period forward to 5pm which will allow residents to park in the car park free of charge overnight and allow time for the cars parked in front of residents' houses to clear.

"Residents then have the option to move their vehicle if they wish, or leave it in the car park overnight as long as they either move it by or pay for a ticket from 8am.

"We will run this as a trial to see if it makes any difference to the local area."

Cllr Des Hannon, district councillor for Tiverton East, was delighted the trial was finally being introduced after "years of badgering" from residents of Westexe South

He said: "With this simple and creative trial I think that we are finally starting to take the right track.

"It's not a big change but in the past big parking ideas have always had unintended consequences for someone in Tiverton.

"This is a small and sensible move in the right direction for local residents who've been tormented by chronic parking problems.

"We will all watch carefully to see if it helps."

Cllr Lester Crocker is another enthusiastic supporter of the free parking trial.

He said: "It is a good idea. There may also be a small boost for those local traders which are open after 5pm, such as takeaway businesses."

The trial will run until the end of May, 2010.

Cllr Radford said the take-up of free parking in a number of car parks in Tiverton on the four Fridays before Christmas appeared to have been a success for retailers and residents alike.

The district council introduced Sunday parking charges in its car parks in February, 2008, but has chosen not to put up regular parking charges for the fourth consecutive year.

A spokesman for the council said: "Although costs have increased the council recognises the economic hardship that businesses and residents are suffering."