THE price of parking for 30 minutes has been slashed at a number of Rochford car parks in a bid to help “keep high streets vibrant”.

As part of Rochford Council’s budget, the cost of parking for half an hour in seven different car parks has been cut from 70p to just 50p after requests from residents who want “to pop into town” for a quick bit of shopping.

The move comes as Southend Council opposition councillors hijacked the budget with a series of amendments – including adding evening charges along the seafront for residents and visitors.

James Newport, deputy leader of Rochford Council, said: “We have been listening to residents and business owners in our district and one of the common themes was about people wanting to pop into the high streets and towns to go to the bank or get a newspaper.

“So, to support the residents and to support the business, particularly the smaller ones, we decided in certain car parks to reduce that short term nip in fee to help keep our high streets vibrant.

“We know around the country high streets are struggling, but we are lucky in Rayleigh that our high street is vibrant, and we want to keep it that way and make sure we help to invest in resident and businesses.”

The car parks where the half-hour price will be cut include The Market, Castle Road, Bellingham Lane, Southend Road, Freight House, and Back Lane.

The majority of other car parking fees in council-owned car parks will increase by either 10 or 20p from April 1 for an hour upwards.

Southend traders praised Rochford Council for the move, and insisted they would welcome a similar move with half hour parking unavailable in town centre and seafront car parks.

Martin Richardson, owner of the Happidrome Arcade, said: “That is Rochford Council working with businesses.

“Problem is, we get a lot of people using the 15-minute drop and stop, which works well. But there are a lot of people, like me, who want to stop in the town centre on the way home or to get dinner, but I don’t because you have to pay £2.80 in some car parks for a whole hour.

“It is all about working with businesses as to run a business at the moment is astronomical. You have to be helping out businesses, like Rochford have done here. It is the little things like this that are always such a boost.”